The Saints have enough going for them Sunday to make this one interesting, and the injury situation on Baltimore’s side is a big part of it.
By the time the week’s work is mostly in the books, several Ravens starters either weren’t participating or weren’t doing much at all. If that holds, and if more of Zay Flowers, Nnamdi Madubuike, Trey Hendrickson, Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson and Teddye Buchanan end up sidelined, it could level the field in a hurry.
New Orleans has already shown since the middle of last season, when Tyler Shough became the full-time starter, that it’s a different team. The Saints are 5-5 in that stretch, and last week in Detroit they looked like they might steal a wild one before the finish went sideways. They missed a game-winning two-point conversion, got burned on a key call and eventually lost in overtime.
That’s the kind of team they are now: loose, aggressive and willing to let it fly. Shough has been throwing it all over the yard, ranking fourth in dropbacks in the NFL since taking over in November. That matters here, because Baltimore’s own recent home form has not exactly inspired fear.
The Ravens’ injury list also lines up with one of the Saints’ biggest paths to an upset: attack the weaknesses up front and make the game about explosives. New Orleans’ offensive line has already shown cracks in pass protection, especially inside.
Vega Ioane had rookie moments in Week 1, as expected, and Jovaughn Gwyn still hasn’t proven he’s even a replacement-level option at center. The Saints paid John Simpson $10 million a year to steady things, but the interior depth behind him looks shaky, with Ethan Pocic the one piece who should be starting at center once he’s healthy enough.
On the other side, if Hendrickson and Madubuike are out, Baltimore’s defensive front suddenly looks a lot closer to the group that got shoved around and knocked out of the playoffs last year.
There’s also a schematic fit here that gives New Orleans a shot. Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley was a disaster as a head coach, but he and Ravens coach Jesse Minter believe in a lot of the same things: keep the lid on, prevent the deep shot, and gamble to create splash plays. That sets up a clear role for Chris Olave, who has 800 receiving yards in nine games played with Shough and is averaging nearly 15 yards per target.
New Orleans flashed that big-play profile against Detroit, hitting four plays of 25 yards or more while not surrendering any to an explosive Lions offense. That plus-four margin was as good as any team in the league last week.
If Flowers is out, Baltimore’s downfield passing game takes a real hit, especially with starting receiver Ja’Kobi Lane already unavailable. And with the pass rush banged up, Shough should have chances to keep launching it.
He’s dropping back 40 times a game.
Lamar Jackson has handled NFC teams well over time, and Baltimore’s new offense looked dominant in Week 1. But Jackson’s history against Staley’s defenses suggests this isn’t a mismatch by default. When Staley was coaching the Chargers, Jackson beat them twice, but both games were tighter than the final result might suggest, and a lot of that had to do with the Chargers’ own offensive struggles and turnovers.
Jackson never topped 180 passing yards in those meetings. He went 19 of 27 for 167 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in one game, then 18 of 32 for 177 yards and a touchdown in the other.
He also had a harder time on the ground than usual, running eight times for 51 yards in the first matchup and 11 times for 39 in the second. That’s 4.7 yards per carry overall, with one 22-yard run and 18 other carries producing 68 yards.
So no, the Saints aren’t walking in scared. Baltimore has the home-field expectation, the shiny new offense and the burden that comes with being the team everybody expects to put on a show. New Orleans has the looser vibe, the aggressive quarterback and a real opening if the Ravens’ injury list keeps growing.
In Other News...
Ravens Fans Are Already Debating One Wild New Stadium Food Item
M&T Bank Stadium rolled out a fresh batch of concessions for the Ravens home opener, and the menu alone is already giving fans plenty to talk about. The biggest head-turner is a barbecue sundae built with brisket, baked beans and macaroni, a layered game-day novelty that sits alongside new spots like The Talon patio and Franks RedHot Backstage sports bar as the stadium keeps trying to make the food scene feel as much a part of the experience as the football.
There are broader changes mixed in too, from a switch in poultry suppliers to Perdue Farms to the addition of familiar names and local flavor through vendors like Little Caesars and Factoria Maria Pupuseria. Stadium officials also laid out pricing and descriptions for a range of updated items, including hot dogs and the Dueling Dog, but the barbecue sundae is the one most likely to spark the debate that every NFL venue secretly wants - whether this is a must-try crowd-pleaser or a bridge too far. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Loop Bought The Ravens Time But Not Real Kicker Security
Tyler Loop gave the Ravens exactly what they needed in Week 1, handling every extra point and field goal attempt and even showing range from distance. That kind of clean debut bought the team some breathing room, and it quickly made the practice-squad kicker picture look a lot less crowded when Baltimore moved on from Jake Moody.
Still, the move did not amount to a long-term declaration of trust. Loops first game was encouraging, but the Ravens know one sharp outing is not the same thing as established reliability, especially at a position where inconsistency can swing games fast. Moody could always come back into the conversation if Loops form slips, which is why Baltimores kicker situation feels more settled than secure. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Face A Big Availability Problem On Offense
The Ravens' offense was already trying to find its early-season rhythm, and Thursday's injury report did not make life easier. Zay Flowers sat out practice with a hamstring issue, joining Ronnie Stanley and John Simpson among the notable absences as Baltimore dealt with several missing starters at once. With a new coaching staff in place, the team has been taking a cautious approach to health this time of year, which makes every missed practice a little more meaningful.
Flowers is considered day-to-day, but the outlook for this week does not sound especially encouraging, and that leaves Baltimore waiting to see how much of its passing game it can count on. Nnamdi Madubuike is still limited as he works back from neck surgery, adding another layer to an availability picture that already has the Ravens monitoring key spots across the roster. For a team trying to settle in offensively, the next few practices should say a lot about how much of the plan can actually be put on the field. [Read more 🡒]