The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will finish up a long and unusual week in New Orleans with a game against the Saints in the Superdome on Sunday, October 13. It is their second game in a row against an NFC South opponent and an opportunity to land their first blow in the fight for the division title. To find out how to watch, listen and livestream the game, click here.
There is a strong consensus among national NFL analysts about Sunday's game, not just in terms of the final outcome but also the factors that lead to it. Derek Carr, the Saints' veteran quarterback, suffered an oblique injury in Monday night's loss at Kansas City and is expected to miss at least the next two games. The Saints thus had two young passers to choose from between 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener and fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler, either of which would be making his first NFL start. The Saints went with Rattler and the combination of an inexperienced quarterback and a banged-up New Orleans offensive line has swayed public opinion towards Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers began the week as 2.5-point underdogs on the road but became 3.5-point favorites after the Saints' injury-necessitated switch from Carr to Rattler. Experts seem to agree with that change. Here's what some of them are saying:
NFL.com – Citing QB shift and O-Line injuries for Saints, all five experts go with Tampa Bay
ESPN.com – A whopping 11 analysts chime in, and all side with Buccaneers
CBSSports.com – Pete Prisco sees Bucs getting "back on track" in Week Six
USA Today – Bucs get all three picks but all three predicted scores are very close
Bleacher Report – All eight analysts agree on Bucs pick
Pro Football Talk – Mike Florio and Chris Simms each predict double-digit win for Bucs
Sports Illustrated – Albert Breer tabs Bucs and the rest of the MMQB staff agrees
Sporting News – Bill Bender notes Baker Mayfield's fast start and goes with Bucs
