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Bucs VS. Saints Preview

Opening up 0-1 is always bad, opening up 0-1 to the distraught Jets is even worse. The Team people were putting in the bottom three of the NFL rankings beat our Buc squad week one. Sure you can complain there was a bad call to end the game, but we still lost. Bouncing back week two the Buccaneers fate seems to worsen playing a rejuvenated Saints team that are rolling off a impressive victory over the NFC South reigning champion Falcons team. This may be one of the Bucs key early games, seeing as this could guide the way our season plays out the rest of the year. Lets take a deeper look into how this game could turn up.

The game should go as many predict, with the Saints putting up as many as they please. Dicing the Buccaneers defense to shreds, hopefully this is not the case. The Bucs actually can stop the Saints offense, but it begins with the front four. Our line needs to pressure Brees, one of the keys of the game is pressure. Pressure on both sides, Freeman needs time, but Brees does not. After this the Bucs have to do what we couldn't last week and that is put the foot on the gas. By this I mean we must score, early, and often. Tampa cannot have the choppy offense they showed up with last week, often shooting themselves in the foot. If they can do these two keys and jump to a lead they must close. Closure is key this week facing a much more dangerous offense with an ice cool QB Tampa must stop them late in the game. Unlike last week letting the Jets march down the field off of penalties, the Bucs must limit the high operating offense. If all of these keys go Tampa Bay's way a win is very likely but only with these keys.

Predictions: Freeman: 19 completions, 31 attempts, 285 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
Martin: 18 attempts, 124 yards, 1 touchdown.
Jackson: 7 catches, 120 yards, 1 touchdown.

Brees: 30 completions, 38 attempts, 332 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception Thomas: 10 carries, 24 yards. Sproles: 4 catches, 93 yards, 2 touchdowns.

27-21 Saints.

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