Week 14:
Tampa Bay Bucs vs New Orleans Saints
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams
Week 14 is going to continue the stretch of the games getting more and more important. The Falcons are flying across the country to take on the Rams. The Rams defense is the heart of this team but they really aren’t as good as many people think. After giving up 49 points to the Saints the Rams should fear the Falcons and their similar offensive dominance. The Falcons should easily handle the Rams even on the road.
For the Bucs this is the first of two meetings against the division rival New Orleans, who after looking lost at the beginning of the year have fought their way back to relevancy as well. Sitting at 5-6 the Saints are by no means out of the race for a playoff spot. This game was projected to be important for both teams so it was flexed to the 4:25 late afternoon primetime slot.
The Bucs need to win in the division more than any other because the Falcons have a better division record right now. The Saints are by no means the same team at home as they were a few seasons ago but their offense is still near the top of the league. Their only issue is they still have a horrendous defense.
If the Bucs want to win this game they need to have the same defense that’s been playing the past three weeks. I don’t know about you but I still don’t know how consistent this team could actually be. How could this defense give up 37 points to the Rams but only three to the Seahawks? Maybe they are finally gelling or maybe it was all an illusion. I’d like to believe that they are coming together but the Saints at home are still the Saints, at home. I see the Bucs losing this one in a close one.