The New Orleans Saints will need to make some miraculous changes if they want to end the 2024 regular season on a high note.
When the New Orleans Saints take the field in Week 18, they won’t be playing for anything. They’ll be picking 10th in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they have been eliminated from the playoff race for weeks. The outcome of the game will, however, decide if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Atlanta Falcons make the postseason.
While New Orleans won’t be playing for anything, it’s a prideful team that will want to end the season with a win. Facing off against a talented Bucs team that’s hoping to punch their ticket to the playoffs, the Saints will have their hands full. If New Orleans is going to ruin Tampa’s season, the team will need to fix a few things before taking the field on Sunday.
3. Saints must protect the football
Ball security is always a deciding factor in football games. In Week 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Saints turned the ball over twice, compared to zero for Vegas. One turnover led to a score, and the other led to the end of the game. Simply put, it’s hard to win when giving the ball away to the other team.
Both turnovers were interceptions thrown by rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler. Everyone understands the talented rookie will have growing pains, but if the team is going to win on Sunday, he can’t give the ball to the other team.
2. Saints have to be better against the run
One of the most disappointing things about New Orleans this year has been the demise of the defense. In year’s past, the defense was consistently solid, even when the team was just average. This year, though, the defense has been a weakness— especially the run defense.
When New Orleans faced the Bucs in Week 6, Tampa Bay ran all over the Saints rushing for 277 yards, averaging 7.9 yards a touchdown. The Saints must do everything possible to avoid a repeat on Sunday.
1. Saints need to be more discipline
When you’re a bad team hoping to pull off an upset, the one thing you can’t afford to do is beat yourself. Unfortunately, New Orleans has built a habit of making costly mistakes. In Week 17 against Vegas, the Saints committed 10 penalties for 85 yards— seven more penalties than the Raiders had.
If New Orleans is going to upset the Buccaneers and finish the season with a win, it has to be the more discipline team on Sunday.
