Tom Brady earns the primetime spotlight - but can the Bucs catch the Saints?
Yahoo Sports senior NFL writers Terez Paylor and Charles Robinson discuss the NFL’s schedule release for 2020 and the outlook for the NFC South rivals. Subscribe to the Yahoo Sports NFL Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Video Transcript
CHARLES ROBINSON: Tampa Bay, obviously, we saw Tom. T-- [LAUGHS]
TEREZ PAYLOR: Yes.
CHARLES ROBINSON: Tom is worth five primetime games. Tom Brady--
TEREZ PAYLOR: He is worth-- yes.
CHARLES ROBINSON: Turns the Buccaneers into five primetime games. I think we're pro-- I mean, look, week one, you go and play the Saints. The Saints right now, especially when you look at what's going on in Vegas-- I see a lot of Saints win totals at like, hey, 10 could be the over and under. 10 1/2 could be the over and under. Clearly, Vegas is expecting a lot out of the Saints.
TEREZ PAYLOR: Yeah.
CHARLES ROBINSON: So right off the bat, you're going to measure, you know, where is Tom. I love this, because to me, it sets up two things. Number one, I think it's Brees' farewell season, so this is how we're starting Brees' farewell season in week one against, you know, Tampa Tom.
And then it will tell us, I think, out of the gate, like, how competitive can they be from jump? Like, is it going to take an adjustment period? Because the Saints are going to hit the road running more quickly than the Buccaneers are, or at least they should. And-- and-- you're going into the Superdome for Tom.
TEREZ PAYLOR: Yeah, I think that's a good point, Charles. And I've spent a lot of time in quarantine breaking down these rosters and doing just like, football research. I'm banging the over on the Saints with 10 wins.
Like, that--
CHARLES ROBINSON: Really?
TEREZ PAYLOR: This is one of the best rosters in football.
CHARLES ROBINSON: OK, wow.
TEREZ PAYLOR: It is. It's up there with the Ravens. It's up there with the Chiefs. It's a good roster. It's good.
They're going to get-- I'm banging the over on that. But here's the thing, I really like Tampa this year. I like Tampa a lot.
I know people are concerned about Tampa's offensive line a little bit, but here's the thing you got to remember here. The way their schedule is set up, you're going to get your answer of how their offensive line is quickly, OK.
They open with the Saints. They can get after you. The Panthers, they have some promising young pass rushers. The Broncos, the Chargers, the Bears and Packers, OK. So they can rush to pass. All these teams can.
I actually think that the Buccs are positioned to handle this. From left to right, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, Alex Cappa, and Tristan Wirfs. I think they're going to be all right.
And they've got Gronk blocking. By the way, OJ Howard can block, too. I think they're going to be fine.
I'm in on the Buccs. I think the Buccs are going to easily be a wild card team. They're going to challenge the Saints for the division supremacy.
But this is going to be a lit game, because I think Brady's going to come out looking to make a statement. Gronk's going to come out looking to make a statement. Bruce Arians is going to come out looking to make a statement.
I think the Buccs are actually well positioned to get off to a good start, because I do believe in their offensive line. And before playing the Saints again in week nine, they face only one other 2019 playoff team, the Packers, in week six. And I think the Packers could be headed toward a regression. We talked about that, so.
And after that, they got like, five home games in the last eight weeks of the season. So I'm telling you, man, I think the Buccs are scheduled. OK. Let's just say we will see them in January. I feel really good and strong about the Saints and Buccs.