There’s no single culprit for the Saints’ rough opening stretch, and that’s part of what makes it look so messy. New Orleans sat at 1-1 after two weeks, and even that came with a one-point loss to Detroit and an encouraging comeback win in Baltimore. Since then, though, the Saints have dropped three straight, and the last two have raised the alarm level even more.
The schedule hasn’t exactly given them a soft landing, either. Detroit, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Minnesota all looked like a brutal first five when the slate came out, and it has played out that way in ways nobody could have fully predicted. The Raiders and Falcons have been better than expected, while Minnesota’s defense has been dominant.
On offense, the line has taken a clear hit without Kelvin Banks, Jr. The unit is supposed to be a strength when healthy, but the Saints have struggled to replace him. Asim Richards has filled in at left tackle, and the numbers have been ugly: a 30.3% pressure percentage allowed, plus 17 pressures, ten hurries, six QB hits, and a sack across 144 pass-blocking snaps.
Banks’ absence stands out even more when you compare the two. He allowed six pressures, four hurries, and two sacks on 94 pass-blocking snaps.
Richards has played 50 more snaps and already surrendered 11 more pressures, six more hurries, and one fewer sack. The Saints need Banks back as soon as possible.
The defense has its own problems, and they’re piling up fast. Chase Young aside, New Orleans has been getting beaten around in 2026.
The Saints are allowing 30.2 points per game, which ranks second-worst, and they’re giving up 361 yards per game as well. That’s a tough combination to survive, even with five takeaways and ten sacks through five weeks.
The missed tackles are adding to the damage, with 38 already on the season. And the secondary has been exposed repeatedly. Passer rating allowed by Saints defensive backs tells the story:
Jonas Sanker has been targeted 27 times and allowed a 124.1 passer rating.
Kool-Aid McKinstry has been targeted 28 times and allowed a 102.5 passer rating.
Ouch.
In Other News...
Kellen Moore Enters A Saints Game He Cant Afford To Mismanage
The Saints head into Week 6 against the Giants carrying far more than a 1-4 record, and the scrutiny around Kellen Moore has already reached the point where every decision feels magnified. With New Orleans struggling on both sides of the ball, the focus is no longer just on getting back in the win column. It is on whether Moore can put together a plan that looks organized, adaptable and worthy of a team that expected more than this kind of start.
Gayle Bensons public frustration only sharpened the spotlight, since the message around the building has been hard to miss: this level of performance cannot continue without consequences. So the matchup with New York comes with more than standard early-season urgency. It is a chance for Moore to show that his offense can function, his staff can adjust and the Saints can look like a team with a clear direction instead of one searching for answers week to week. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Get A Needed Boost But Week 6 Concern Still Lingers
Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave should give New Orleans a much-needed lift heading into Sundays matchup with the Giants, easing some of the early-week concern around two of the offenses most important players. Kamara has been dealing with a back issue, while Olave was battling illness, but both are expected to be available as the Saints try to keep their game plan intact in a Week 6 spot that already carried some pressure.
The same positive injury trend extends to New York, with left tackle Andrew Thomas and edge rusher Abdul Carter also expected to suit up despite their own injury concerns. For the Saints, the broader picture is simple: getting Kamara and Olave on the field matters because their availability shapes what this offense can be, even if the health questions around the week are not fully gone. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Backfield Shift Puts Cam Skattebo Under Pressure In Week 6
The Giants are making a notable backfield adjustment heading into Week 6 after Cam Skattebos ball-security issues became too big to ignore. ESPNs Jordan Raanan reported that New York plans to reshuffle its running back rotation, a response to Skattebos multiple fumbles this season and the critical one he put on the ground in Week 5 against Washington, a mistake that nearly swung the game the wrong way.
For New Orleans, the matchup now comes with a little extra intrigue because Najee Harris is expected to take on a larger role while Skattebos snap share is trimmed but not erased. The Saints will still have to prepare for both backs, yet the more pressing question is whether New Yorks change can steady the offense or simply shift the pressure somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]