It’s Week 9 for the Sunday Night 7!
Play for FREE for your chance to win or split a $100,000 jackpot every contest. Download the NBC Sports Predictor app to join the party right now. Here are the 7 questions for this Sunday: [[ad:athena]]
#1 Tom Brady passing yards? Passing touchdowns?
< 225, 225-259, 260-289, 290-309, 310-339, 340+
0-1, 2, 3, 4, 5+
New Orleans is much better against the run, so I would expect Tampa Bay to open up the passing game more than usual. Expect to see quite a bit of four receiver sets from Byron Leftwich’s offense. Brady may very well throw the ball 40 times again, which he’s already done three times this season. I’ll roll with 288 yards and three touchdowns.
#2 Drew Brees passing yards? Passing touchdowns?
< 225, 225-249, 250-274, 275-299, 300-324, 325+
0, 1, 2, 3, 4+
Wait. Why does Brady get the option for five touchdowns and Brees doesn’t? Hmmmm. The passing yards are tricky with the Saints because Alvin Kamara is such a weapon out of the backfield. He’s essentially an extension of the run game when he catches the ball and busts upfield. You have to account for that. Let’s say 295 passing yards with two passing scores.
#3 First touchdown of the game?
Ronald Jones, Alvin Kamara, Mike Evans, Emmanuel Sanders, Rob Gronkowski, Scotty Miller, Any other Saints player, Any other Buccaneers player
Gronk has been white hot the last three weeks with a touchdown in all three games. The first touchdown prop is a total roulette spin, but Brady’s confidence in his old buddy is growing stronger by the minute. He’s a massive target inside the red zone and I’ll take my chances.
#4 Alvin Kamara total yards? Total touchdowns?
< 85, 85-109, 110-129, 130-149, 150-169, 170-189, 190+
0, 1, 2, 3+
This is assuming Kamara is going to play. He didn’t practice Wednesday, but told reporters he’ll be ready Sunday night. Kamara is arguably the biggest all-around weapon in football because of his ability to run the rock and catch passes. He absolutely shredded Chicago for 163 yards, but didn’t score. I’ll go lower on the yardage at 135, but he’ll get in the end zone once.
#5 Most receiving yards in second quarter?
Alvin Kamara, Mike Evans, Emmanuel Sanders, Scotty Miller, Tre’Quan Smith, Rob Gronkowski, Any other Saints player, Any other Buccaneers player
Mike Evans is always the focal point of an opponent’s game plan, but he’s still a home run threat with a major vertical. I love picking players like Evans and DK Metcalf when it comes to most receiving yards because they’re always one catch away from taking one to the house. Evans it is.
#6 Longest touchdown of the game?
< 10 yards, 10-19, 20-29, 30-37, 38-45, 46-52, 53-59, 60+
Alvin Kamara from 33 yards out on a catch and run.
#7 Winner? Margin of victory?
New Orleans Saints or Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
1-2, 3, 4-5, 6, 7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14, 15-16, 17-18, 19-20, 21+
My gut says Tampa Bay will be much more focused heading into this one than they were on Monday against the lowly Giants. Brady and the offense really started to click in the second half and Arians has always been strong with second half adjustments. Tampa will do just enough to win this NFC South divisional battle. Buccaneers by 4. 27-23.
