{"id":257724,"date":"2025-12-06T12:27:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T17:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=257724"},"modified":"2025-12-06T12:27:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T17:27:29","slug":"todd-bowles-might-get-rare-break-amid-blow-to-kellen-moore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/12\/06\/todd-bowles-might-get-rare-break-amid-blow-to-kellen-moore\/","title":{"rendered":"Todd Bowles Might Get Rare Break Amid Blow to Kellen Moore"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rivalry Week has a way of making coaches lose some sleep and players see red. You can almost smell the animosity emanating from this one. But amid everything, Todd Bowles might just have a smirk on his face at the cost of Kellen Moore’s loss.<\/p>\n

Bowles has spent years in the NFC South trenches and is well aware of this particular dance, particularly the Saints rivalry. It\u2019s personal. However, this time it appears as though Bowles sees an opportunity in a situation that normally would have put him in a bind.<\/p>\n

The Walking Wounded: Saints’ Star Receiver in Doubt<\/h2>\n
\"NFL
Oct 5, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) reacts after a play against the New York Giants during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Friday brought news that could potentially disrupt the Saints<\/a>\u2019 passing attack. Back spasms have forced star wideout Chris Olave to be listed as questionable for Sunday\u2019s game. Yes, the player who fuels the Saints\u2019 passing attack may miss the game. On Wednesday, Kellen Moore attempted to remain upbeat while discussing the status of Olave. “It’s a back so obviously, you play a full game the way he did, obviously it’s going to be sore,”<\/em> he said. “So, he’s just navigating that.”<\/em> That\u2019s coach speak for ‘we are in trouble.’<\/p>\n

In 2025, Olave has accumulated 78 receptions for 781 yards. He lines up at each of the three receiver positions and runs all types of routes. Without Olave, the Saints\u2019 offense will be predictable. And in today\u2019s NFL, predictability is usually not enough to generate success.<\/p>\n

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Chris Olave is officially questionable for Sunday’s game against the Bucs, per Kellen Moore.<\/p>\n

Alvin Kamara, Taliese Fuaga and Justin Reid are OUT. #Saints<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ysYqogCTH0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SleeperSaints (@SleeperSaints) December 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The blows continue to fall for Moore. Alvin Kamara, Taliese Fuaga, and Justin Reid have all been ruled out. That’s three starters gone. Poof. Just like that. The Saints\u2019 defense currently ranks 22nd in points allowed. Now they will be missing some vital parts. This is like trying to stop a freight train with a bicycle.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay<\/a>\u2019s pass defense ranks 29th in the NFL, which isn\u2019t good. However, with Olave possibly being absent due to injury, that\u2019s a ‘get-right’ game for Bowles. Bowles\u2019 secondary receives the break it desperately needed.<\/p>\n

Bowles Defense Smells Blood in the Water<\/h2>\n

Todd Bowles broke down Olave’s film earlier this week. “Well, they move him around,”<\/em> Bowles said to reporter Casey Phillips. “He plays all three positions. He plays X, he plays Z, he plays slot, he runs shallow routes, he runs deep routes, and they’re really moving him and getting him the ball every way possible, trying to expose his ability that way. So, we got to make sure we know where he is at all times.”<\/em> That was last Thursday. By Friday, Bowles may not even have to know where he is at all.<\/p>\n