Saints vs. Buccaneers: What's the Game Plan for New Orleans?

The New Orleans Saints will once again attempt to snap their losing streak Sunday, as they travel to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC South divisional matchup.

New Orleans (4-8) comes in having dropped its last four games, and coach Sean Payton’s club will have to turn in a solid performance in order to avoid a fifth straight defeat.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay (6-6) has won three of its last four, and the Buccaneers are battling for an NFC wild-card spot with just four games to go.

Coach Lovie Smith’s squad defeated the Saints, 26-19, back in Week 2, when New Orleans committed three turnovers.

Payton and the Saints will need a sound game plan to stop the surging Buccaneers in this one. Let’s take a look at a few things New Orleans might do on both offense and defense.

Offense

The Saints will see multiple defensive alignments from the Buccaneers on Sunday, but one look they’re likely to see consistently is the famed Tampa 2, which is a variation of the Cover 2.

This defense, made popular by former Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, is favored by Smith, as well as his defensive coordinator, former Minnesota Vikings head man Leslie Frazier.

It calls for two safeties to zone up and cover the deep halves of the field, with the prevention of the big play being the primary goal.

A common strategy for beating a two-deep zone is to attack the seams down the middle of the field. This becomes a bit tougher against the Tampa 2, however, as it calls for the middle linebacker to drop into a deep zone to take away the middle.

An accurate passer, such as Saints quarterback Drew Brees, can still have some success against the Tampa 2 with seam routes, but the ball placement, as well as the timing, must be on the money.

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Tampa Bay starting middle ‘backer Kwon Alexander has struggled, for the most part, when dropping back in deep Tampa 2 coverage this season. The rookie won’t be in the lineup Sunday, however, as he begins the first week of a four-game suspension.

That means veteran Bruce Carter will probably get the nod for the Buccaneers at the “Mike” spot, and Brees will likely test him early on. Look for the Saints to try to go after Carter with seam routes to tight ends Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill.

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If New Orleans enjoys consistent success attacking the deep middle, then the short middle of the field should open up. This is where the Saints running backs can make a big impact in the passing game with delayed releases and curl routes.

With Mark Ingram no longer available, C.J. Spiller could play a key role Sunday, as he has the ability to haul in short passes and quickly turn upfield and get extra yards.

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As for the running game, the going could be tough for New Orleans against Tampa Bay’s No. 7-ranked run defense. New Orleans right guard Jahri Evans, a capable run-blocker, was ruled out for the game in Friday’s injury report, according to the team's official website.

Veteran back Tim Hightower will likely get the lion’s share of carries, but don’t expect Payton to call a balanced game, as far as run versus pass is concerned.

With no Evans and no Ingram, look for the Saints to do what they do best on Sunday, which is air it out.

Defense

The Saints defense has been nothing short of a disaster this season, and the injury-riddled unit could be in for another rough day on Sunday.

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First and foremost, New Orleans must devote however many bodies are necessary to slow down Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin. The Buccaneers are sure to run Martin between the tackles quite often against the Saints’ No. 32-ranked run defense.

Defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Tyeler Davison must set the tone early and fill their gaps, while Cam Jordan and Hau’oli Kikaha will have to set the edges and limit Martin’s running space.

As for the passing game, it’s no secret New Orleans must pressure Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston. The Saints will need Jordan, Kikaha and Kasim Edebali, all of whom registered a sack in the Week 2 meeting between these teams, to put some consistent heat on the rookie.

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In the secondary, New Orleans faces a stiff challenge, as Tampa Bay will look to get the ball to leading receiver Mike Evans, who’s hauled in 58 receptions for 850 yards this season.

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At 6’5” and 230 pounds, he often poses matchup problems for opposing secondaries, especially when fellow wideout Vincent Jackson is healthy. Another 6’5”, 230-pounder, Jackson has missed three full games this season but could play a lot Sunday. He’s listed as probable with a knee injury, according to Tampa Bay's Friday injury report on the team's official website.

Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux, who’s listed as probable with a hamstring injury, will be needed against Evans, especially with Brandon Browner struggling.

An offseason free-agent signee, Browner has endured a trying year in New Orleans, and he's been horrendous the past few weeks. The New Orleans secondary should get a boost, however, from rookie corner Damian Swann, who returns to action after suffering his second concussion of the season on November 1.

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As for coverages, look for Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to mix in both man and zone, as he attempts to hit Winston with as many looks as possible.

As mentioned previously, however, a consistent pass rush will be crucial for New Orleans, as it looks to earn stops against a Buccaneers offense that has made strides since these teams last hooked up.

Prediction

With a 4-8 record, the Saints have been reduced to playing for pride, and there’s still a month remaining in the season.

Given the likelihood that changes are coming this offseason, however, more than a few New Orleans players could also be playing for their jobs.

With that in mind, look for a solid effort from the Saints on Sunday against a divisional rival.

Unfortunately for New Orleans, effort, while highly important, can only go so far. This Saints team simply has too many holes, on both sides of the ball, to come out and pull the upset on the road against a Buccaneers team fighting for a playoff spot.

The Saints will have some success through the air, but Brees and Co. won’t be able to score enough points to overcome a Tampa Bay squad that’s starting to click at the right time.

Buccaneers 27, Saints 20