Tampa Bay Buccaneers Suddenly See New Orleans Saints In A New Light in Week 6

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the reigned Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in week 6 of the 2010 NFL regular season.

Have you caught yourself thinking, "Hey, this one is really win-able"?

Have you caught yourself thinking that these New Orleans Saints that are coming into Raymond James Stadium on Sunday aren't all that tough, aren't nearly as good as they were last January?

Have you caught yourself thinking that perhaps, maybe, possibly, if things go well, your beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers could upset those mighty Saints on Sunday?

If you have, you're probably not alone.

Raise you hand if you totally believed that the Arizona Cardinals would spank the Saints 30-20 last week.

That's right, you didn't and perhaps no one who follows the NFL would have bet money on that outcome ahead of time.

After all, who the heck is Max Hall?  Unless you went to Brigham Young or went on a mission with this kid, no way you'd recognize some undrafted 6'0" quarterback.

But he did manage to get his Cardinals a "W" with a lot of help from his defense.

Sound familiar?

Anyone out there expect Drew Brees to throw three picks last week? If that happens again, perhaps they should strike up the band on Bourbon Street and play "When the Bucs Come Marching In."

Fact is, as they exist right now, New Orleans is very, very vulnerable.

New Orleans is vulnerable because it has Tampa's running game.

Ladell Betts put together 44 yards on 10 carries against Arizona.  Corey Ivory churned his way to 39 with another 10 totes.  They make Cadillac Williams look like Chris Johnson.

Wow, Ivory and Johnson.  Most fearsome duo since Williams and Graham.

Hopefully the Buccaneer defense can keep the Betts-Ivory machine under 90 yards, which puts the burden on Brees and the Buccaneer secondary.

That means the special teams for each side will help determine the outcome on Sunday.

And suddenly, like last week in Cincinnati, maybe this matchup isn't as lopsided as it might have sounded last summer.

Once again, the Buccaneers have a decent chance.

Heck, they're 3-1 and 1-0 in the division.  The Saints are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the NFC South.

Wow, whoda thunk it?