The Saints are headed back on the road in Week 2, and the betting line says they’ve got a steep climb ahead. New Orleans opened as an 8.5-point underdog for Sunday’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, with FanDuel setting the over/under at 48.5 points.
That number makes sense on paper after what Baltimore did in its opener. The Ravens rolled past the Indianapolis Colts 41-23, piling up 506 yards of offense.
Derrick Henry powered in for 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns, Lamar Jackson added 324 passing yards, and Zay Flowers led the receiving effort with 150 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury. His status is one to watch this week.
New Orleans, though, gave a much different kind of first impression in Detroit. The Saints trailed 21-0, fought all the way back to force overtime, and eventually dropped a 31-30 decision to the Lions.
Even with three turnovers, Tyler Shough turned in a strong debut, throwing for 410 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Olave was just as sharp, catching 10 passes for 182 yards.
That comeback changed the feel of this game a bit. What looked like a rough matchup on the calendar now carries a little more intrigue after the way the Saints answered in Week 1.
The challenge, of course, is obvious. Baltimore can beat you in more than one way, and New Orleans has to deal with both Jackson’s arm and Henry’s power on the ground. The Saints defense had its own ups and downs against Detroit, starting slowly before settling in as the game went on, but stopping this Ravens attack is a different kind of assignment.
Still, the Saints’ offense showed enough to keep them in the conversation. Shough played with composure, Olave looked like a true top option, and New Orleans didn’t wilt after falling behind by three touchdowns.
So while the Saints enter Week 2 at 0-1, this trip to Baltimore suddenly feels a lot less predictable than it did before the season kicked off.
In Other News...
Saints Historic Rally Ended With A Brutal OT Decision
The Saints turned what looked like a runaway Week 1 loss into one of the more memorable openers of the early NFL season, clawing back from a 21-point deficit to force overtime against the Lions. It was the kind of rally that briefly changed the mood around the building, especially after New Orleans had spent so much of the afternoon chasing the game.
Kellen Moores choice in overtime fit the moment, even if it came with a brutal ending. Rather than settle for a more conservative path, the Saints went for the two-point conversion with the idea of ending it then and there, but the attempt failed and Detroit escaped with a 31-30 win. For New Orleans, the result left plenty of frustration, but also proof that this team could fight back when the game seemed to be slipping away. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Olave Just Showed Saints Fans What Matters Most Now
Chris Olaves season keeps revealing how much the Saints are leaning on him, and the latest example came in the loss to Detroit. For the first time in a game, he wore a Guardian Cap over his helmet, a visible reminder that his health now sits at the center of everything around him. Olave said the choice was about better protecting himself from head injuries, and it came with the sort of personal context that makes football feel a lot bigger than the box score.
Even with the extra padding and some physical discomfort, Olave still turned in a big day, catching 10 passes for 182 yards. For New Orleans, that production matters, but so does the fact that one of its most important players is taking a more cautious approach after dealing with concussions. It leaves the Saints in an uneasy but very real place, where every snap from Olave carries both the value of his playmaking and the question of how much more the team can ask of him. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Face A Costly Joey Porter Jr. Decision At Corner
After an overtime loss, the Saints are staring at another roster question that could shape how they handle the cornerback spot moving forward. Pittsburghs Joey Porter Jr. has emerged as a possible trade target, and the appeal is obvious: he has played well in coverage, brings first-round pedigree and fits the kind of long-term move New Orleans could consider if it wants to strengthen a defense that still has to sort out its cornerback depth.
The fit is not without complications. Porter has also dealt with penalty issues, and any pursuit would force the Saints to weigh the price against their own draft capital and salary cap room, all while trying to decide how much faith to place in the current cornerback group. For a team trying to stay competitive now without emptying its future, it is the kind of decision that can look prudent one day and costly the next. [Read more 🡒]