The Saints need this game which is a good thing as they can still win the AFC South with a win over the Bucs and a Panthers’ win over the Falcons in Atlanta.  I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for a Panthers’ win though.  Regardless, I think the Saints are going to use this game as a playoff rehearsal as they want to keep momentum going in the right direction.  The Bucs can make the playoffs with a win over the Saints and both Packers’ and Giants’ losses.  The Saints pounded the Bucs 31-6 in the first meeting between these two teams in Tampa.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Saints have the ball:  The Saints are going to come out passing against the Bucs in an attempt to get a quick lead on them and hurt their will.  The Bucs are giving up 201.1 yards passing per game but they have 18 interceptions so Brees will have to be careful.  The Bucs have suffered some big time injuries in the secondary so look for Brees to move the ball around and take advantage of mis-matches.  The Saints will then look to hit the ground to grind out a win as the Bucs are giving up 133.4 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.  The Saints would like to get Pierre Thomas & Reggie Bush back into gear before the playoffs start.

When the Bucs have the ball:  The Bucs are going to try to throw short passes and run the football as they want to also control the clock.  The Saints will have to gang up on LeGarrette Blount as he is a load to bring down if he gets a full head of steam.  The Saints will also likely double cover Mike Williams and force the Bucs to beat them throwing to someone else.  TE  Kellen Winslow and RB Cadillac Williams are Josh Freeman’s favorite targets on the shorter stuff.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 31, BUCCANEERS 17

The Saints have placed kickoff returned Courtney Roby on the Injured Reserve List due to a concussion which will cause him to miss the rest of the year.  Roby played in 13 games for the Saints this season and he returned 33 kickoffs for 785 yards (23.8 avg) and he had 10 tackles.  The Saints will replace Roby on kickoff returns with RB Pierre Thomas.  Thomas has returned 7 kickoffs for 154 yards (22.0 avg) so far this year.  He has now returned 75 kickoffs for 1,831 yards (24.4 avg) so far in his NFL career.  Thomas is sure handed but he’s not as explosive as Roby is on returns.

28-year old safety Roman Harper has been the Saints’ best playmaker so far this year.  He has played in 14 games for the Saints so far this year and he has 92 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, 8 passes defensed, 1 interception, 6 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.  Harper has now played in 66 games in his first five years with the Saints and he has 400 tackles, 33 passes defensed, 9.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles and he has 4 interceptions (one returned for a TD).  Harper has been outstanding for the Saints in his career so far and he seems to be getting better which bodes well for them.

The Saints got a huge win in this game as they clinched the playoffs while denting the ego of the Atlanta Falcons at the same time.  Drew Brees completed 35 of 49 passes for 302 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs (0ne of which was returned 26 yards for a TD by DE Chauncey Davis).  But, Brees stepped up and made big plays late in this game to help the Saints pull out this win.  Pierre Thomas led the way on the ground for the Saints in this game with 63 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.3 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 7 passes for 39 yards (5.6 avg) last night.  Reggie Bush only carried the ball 1 time for 0 yards but he pitched in with 4 catches for 20 yards (5.0 avg).  WR Robert Meachem (10 rec, 101 yards), WR Lance Moore (4 rec, 48 yards) and TE Jimmy Graham (4 rec, 26 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Saints last night.  The Saints finished up with 72 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.0 ypc) and they also completed 35 of 49 passes for 296 yards as they had possession of the football for 36:35!

LBs Jo-Lonn Dunbar (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss), Jonathan Vilma (5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) and Marvin Mitchell (3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) led a sterling effort by the Saints’ D in this game.  The Falcons finished up with 75 yards rushing on 22 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 29 passes for 140 yards!  The Saints clinched a playoff spot last night and they are 11-4 on the year now.  They still have a chance to win the NFC South with a win over the Buccaneers and a Panthers win over the Falcons next weekend.  Don’t hold your breath on the Panthers winning next weekend.

The Saints fell last weekend to the Ravens breaking a six game winning streak.  The Saints really need this game because they can still win the NFC South with 2 wins and some help the last two weeks.  The Falcons have won 8 games in a row and they can sew up both the NFC South title and the best record in the NFC with a win this weekend.  Falcons’ QB Matt Ryan is 19-1 as a starter in the Georgia Dome.  The Falcons won the first meeting between these teams in New Orleans earlier this year, 27-24 in O.T.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Saints have the ball:  The Saints are likely to try to run more than usual in this game to try to control the clock.  Chris Ivory might not be ready to go this weekend meaning that Pierre Thomas & Reggie Bush are going to be doing the heavy lifting against a Falcons’ D that is allowing 106.1  yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  If the Saints O-Line can keep John Abraham out of the backfield, Brees should have more  than enough time to throw the ball.  He will spread the ball around to whoever is open making him very hard to defend.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Saints will need to tighten up the chinstraps to deal with Michael Turner and Jason Snelling who are going to attack the front seven of the Saints.  The Saints are giving up 117.0 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry so far this year.  The Saints will have try to double team WR Roddy White and dare Matt Ryan to beat them by throwing the ball to Michael Jenkins & Tony Gonzalez.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 30, SAINTS 27

The Saints tied this game with11:34 left in the football game but then the Ravens put up a couple of FGs to put the Saints away.  Drew Brees was solid as usual as he completed 29 of 46 passes for 267 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 INT.  Pierre Thomas led the way for the Saints on the ground with 20 yards on 6 carries (3.3 ypc).  Reggie Bush carried the ball 4 times for -4 yards (-1.0 ypc) but he also added 7 grabs for 36 yards (5.1 avg).  Marques Colston (6 rec, 80 yards), Jimmy Graham (5 rec, 29 yards, 2 TDs) and Lance Moore (2 rec, 26 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Saints.  The Saints finished up with 27 yards rushing on 14 carries  (1.9 ypc) and they also completed 29 of 46 passes for 242 yards.

LBs Jonathan Vilma (11 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss) and Danny Clark (10 tackles) led the way for the Saints in this game.  The Ravens finished up with 208 yards rushing on 39 carries (5.3 ypc) and they also completed 10 of 20 passes for 148 yards.  The Saints are now 10-4 on the season as they are 2 games behind the Falcons in the NFC South.

The Saints are on a roll right now as they have won six games in a row since the Browns beat them down.  In those games, the Saints have scored 183 combined points!  The Ravens have won three of their last four games.  This is going to be a good football game and here is a lot at the matchups:

When the Saints have the ball:  The Saints should not change the offense a bit this weekend as the Ravens have been having defensive issues as of late.  If the Saints give Drew Brees time to throw the ball this Sunday, I think Brees is going to have a big game.  Brees will likely spread the ball around in the passing game giving a lot of his players a taste of the action.  Chris Ivory is a little bit banged up but even if he can’t go….Pierre Thomas & Reggie Bush are  back.

When the Ravens have the ball:  The Ravens are likely going to try to run the ball more than usual to try to control the clock.  That means the Saints front seven will have to step up and stop Willis McGahee  and Ray Rice.  Joe Flacco likes to throw the ball down the field so the safeties need to have a good game for the Saints to stop the Ravens’ passing game.  The Ravens are averaging 229.9 yards passing per game this year so that won’t be easy.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 27, RAVENS 23

The Saints dominated this game yesterday.  Drew Brees completed 25 of 40 passes for 221 yards with 3 TD passes and 2 INTs in this game.  Chris Ivory led the way on the ground for the Saints in this game with 47 yards on 7 carries (6.7 ypc).  Pierre Thomas pitched in with 12 carries for 39 yards (3.3 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 29 yards (7.3 avg).  Reggie Bush carried the ball 9 times for 39 yards (4.3 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 22 yards (4.4 avg).  WRs Lance Moore (5 rec, 70 yards, TD) and Marques Colston (5 rec, 46 yards, 2 TDs) led the way for the Saints in the passing game yesterday.  The Saints finished up with 132 yards rushing on 29 carries (4.6 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 40 passes for 213 yards as they had possession of the ball for 33:01.

LB Jonathan Vilma led the way for the Saints with 8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit), safety Roman Harper (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit), CB Jabari Greer (4 tackles, 3 passes defensed and a fumble recovery) and CB Malcolm Jenkins (4 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 2 interceptions (one he returned 96 yards for a TD) led the way for the Saints’ D.  The Rams finished up with 136 yards rushing on 24 carries (5.7 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 32 passes for 191 yards.  The Saints are now 10-3 on the season after yesterday’s win but they are still 1 game behind the Falcons in the NFC South.

The Saints have won 5 games in a row since the beatdown the Browns put on them.  They are only 1 game behind the Falcons in the NFC South so this is a very important game for the Saints.  The Rams have won two games in a row (both on the road) and they are tied for first place in the NFC West so they are going to bring their “A” game this Sunday.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Saints have the ball:  The Saints have been passing to get a lead and then running the ball to finish things out.  I don’t see them changing the gameplan for the Rams.  The Rams are giving up 229.5 yards passing per game so far this year but they do have 35 sacks.  So if Drew Brees has time to throw the ball (and I think he will), he should be able to make some plays down the field.  Chris Ivory will also get his fair share of carries against the Rams who are giving up 103.5 yards rushing per game and 4.3 yards per carry.

When the Rams have the ball:  The Rams are going to throw a lot of short passes while also running the ball in this game.  They are going to try to control the clock. The Saints must first worry about stopping RB Steven Jackson who has 985 yards rushing (3.8 ypc) and 4 TD runs this year.  If they slow him down then they can deal with rookie QB Sam Bradford.  Bradford doesn’t seem to have a favorite receiver which makes him hard to defend.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 28, RAMS 20

31-year old QB Drew Brees has led the Saints to five straight wins in which they have scored 152 points.  In those five games, Brees has completed 147 of 198 passes (74.2%) for 1,605 yards with 11 TD passes and 6 INTs.  He has now played in 12 games this season and he has completed 337 of 485 passes (69.5%) for 3,634 yards with 25 TD passes and 16 INTs (94.6 QB Rating).  Brees has also carried the ball 15 times for -8 yards (-0.5 ypc) so far this year.  The Saints need Brees to stay hot if they want to get back to the Super Bowl this year.