The Ravens’ Week 2 test comes against a Saints team that left opening weekend with plenty of offensive bite, even in a 31-30 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. New Orleans dug itself into a 21-0 hole, then ripped off 30 of the next 40 points and nearly stole the game anyway. Tyler Shough’s 410-yard outing and Chris Olave’s 182 receiving yards were the kind of numbers Baltimore can’t shrug off.
The Saints also coughed it up three times and looked shaky early, but the comeback was a reminder that this group can flip a game fast when the passing attack starts humming.
Here are 10 New Orleans players Ravens fans should have on the radar before Sunday’s home opener.
Tyler Shough is the engine. The quarterback completed 35 of 56 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit, but he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.
He settled in after a rough start and helped New Orleans claw back from that 21-point deficit. Baltimore’s Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey and the safeties will have to deal with a passer willing to push the ball downfield, and the Ravens need him making mistakes without giving up chunk plays.
Olave is the obvious name on the board. He looked like the focal point of the Saints’ passing game from the jump, piling up 182 yards with gains of 47 and 43 yards.
His route running is smooth, he can threaten vertically, and he finishes tough catches. Wiggins’ strong Week 1 could put him in the mix here, but Baltimore is likely to mix coverages and keep help nearby.
Alvin Kamara is still Alvin Kamara. Even with other backs in the mix, he remains one of the league’s most versatile offensive weapons.
He can run it, catch it out of the slot, and turn a simple touch into a problem for linebackers and safeties. That puts the burden on Roquan Smith and the rest of Baltimore’s second level to find him early and bring him down cleanly.
Travis Etienne Jr. adds another layer to the backfield. He brings the burst to turn an outside run or a short catch into a real gain, and pairing him with Kamara gives Kellen Moore flexibility without tipping the play call. For Baltimore, the key is simple: hold the edge and keep Etienne from getting loose to the perimeter.
Devaughn Vele gives Shough a big target opposite Olave. At 6-foot-5, he hauled in a touchdown against Detroit and also came down with a 31-yard grab, showing he can win through contact. That size makes him a real factor on third down and in the red zone, where Baltimore’s corners can’t rely on being close enough alone.
Kelvin Banks Jr. is one of the most important pieces on the Saints’ offensive line. The former first-round pick handles Shough’s blind side and brings athleticism, balance and recovery ability in protection. He’ll be tested by a Ravens front that got pressure from several spots in the win over Indianapolis, and Trey Hendrickson, Tavius Robinson and Baltimore’s pressure looks will put his technique and communication under the microscope.
Chase Young is still the Saints’ most recognizable pass rusher, and he got to the quarterback once in the opener. With his length, power and athleticism, he can make life miserable off the edge when he gets rolling.
Roger Rosengarten and Ronnie Stanley have to keep him from wrecking Lamar Jackson’s timing or forcing the pocket to collapse. Young also has to stay disciplined against Jackson’s scrambling.
Vernon Broughton made one of the Saints’ biggest defensive plays against Detroit by forcing and recovering a fumble. The second-year lineman brings size and disruption to the interior, and that matters in a matchup where New Orleans will try to slow Derrick Henry after his 144 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1. Baltimore’s rebuilt interior line has to keep Broughton from getting into the backfield before Henry reaches the line.
Kaden Elliss comes back to Baltimore as a former Raven and a key piece of the Saints’ defense. He can stop the run, rush the passer and cover from the second level, which gives New Orleans plenty of ways to use him. Declan Doyle has to factor him into the protection plan, and the Saints could deploy Elliss as a spy, interior blitzer or movable pressure option against Jackson.
Kool-Aid McKinstry may wind up with the toughest coverage job of the group. He’s New Orleans’ top outside corner and could draw Baltimore’s top receiver.
The former Alabama standout plays with physicality, patience and ball awareness, and his role becomes even more important if Zay Flowers is available after leaving Week 1 with a hamstring injury. If Flowers can’t go or is limited, McKinstry could spend more time on Rashod Bateman while New Orleans shifts attention toward Baltimore’s tight ends.
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Saints Workout Just Turned Into A Bigger NFL Problem
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For New Orleans, it is a small note on paper but the kind that matters when teams are sorting through depth and trying to squeeze value out of every look. Harris and Wright will be eligible to sign with NFL teams next season without having to go back through the draft, but for now any club that had them on the radar has to move on and wait. [Read more 🡒]