Welcome to In The Know, a brief weekly post regarding who I think is going to win my chosen ‘Game of the Week’ and why. There will also be further discussion on three other selected games in the NFL that provide intrigue in their own right, known as the ‘TBP Big Three’, as well as a selected NBA game from the upcoming week.

The British Playbook Game of the Week

San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

There are three teams in the NFC that are tied for the best record in the conference at 10-2. These teams are the New Orleans Saints and the two NFC West powerhouses, the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. With the 49ers heading to New Orleans on Sunday, the ‘Game of the Week’ is a big one that pits two of the top teams in the NFL against one another. I certainly can’t wait to see the game, and I also cannot wait to see how my mate - a big 49ers fan - reacts as the ‘Niners look to take a big road win.

If the 49ers are to pick up a win at the Superdome, the keys lie in the hands of their secondary. The front seven is the best in the league, and everyone from San Francisco to London knows that the ‘Niners can stop the ground game - even if it is Alvin Kamara. DeForest Buckner is particularly important in this respect; he is one of the leading players in the NFL at missed - or rather not missing - tackles. Buckner has made 51 tackles thus far in 2019, missing just 2 all year - a rate of 3.8%. With the ground game locked up, can they deal with the New Orleans air attack? Well, when New Orleans have Drew Brees under centre for a full game, the Saints average approximately 292 yards and two touchdowns per game. In star wideout Michael Thomas, New Orleans possess arguably the most effective offensive player in the NFL. Thomas is currently leading the league in receptions, with 110 (24 more than DeAndre Hopkins in second place), and yards as he has racked up 1290 (170 more than Chris Godwin - the next best total). Oh, and he has six touchdowns.