SAINTS VS. BUCCANEERS
(Saints lead all-time matchups 19-13)
The Saints begin the season against their NFC South Division rival at the Superdome. This Sunday matchup is a far cry from the pomp and circumstance their ’07 opener greeted them with, a Thursday night game at the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. This game may not be much easier, though, as the Bucs are defending NFC South champs and Tampa Bay QB Jeff Garcia has something to prove after coach Jon Gruden flirted with Brett Favre over the summer. A good start is a must for the Saints after last year’s 0-4 misstep, and with the team seemingly back under the radar the players will hopefully feel much less pressure.
Saints player to watch: QB Drew Brees. We closely watch Brees excel in almost every Saints game, but had good, not great stats against Tampa last year. In ’07’s first matchup with the Bucs, Brees threw for 260 yards and 1 TD but also an INT (the Saints lost 31-14). In the second, Brees had 2 TDs but just 179 yards through the air. In neither game did the Saints muster 100 yards rushing as a team. The Bucs are sure to test the Saints’ revamped secondary early in the game (see Bucs player to watch below) and it could be up to Brees to put the Saints on the board early and often if it becomes a shootout. He can’t afford to give away the ball and may have to keep Saints drives alive with his passing, necessitating more than 179 yards.
Bucs player to watch: This one’s easy: WR Joey Galloway. Over the past four games between the Bucs and Saints the elderly speedster has torched New Orleans with 19 catches for 500 yards and 5 TDs. In last year’s matchup at the Superdome, Galloway absolutely burned the Saints with 7 catches for 159 yards, including one catch that went for 60. In fact, in each of those four games Galloway has had a catch of at least 44 yards.
Ex-Saint to watch: C Jeff Faine. Faine bolted for Tampa for a $50 million dollar contract and anchors their offensive line. He’s sure to want to prove the Saints wrong for letting him go and starting the unproven Jonathan Goodwin, but will he be able to take Sedrick Ellis and Kendrick Clancy?
HA’s Madden ’09 Result: Saints win, 34-7.
HA’s Prediction: Saints win, 27-17.
