Week 2 brings a simple question for the New Orleans Saints: can the run game finally show up against a Baltimore defense that usually makes life miserable on the ground?
The Saints head to Baltimore coming off a wild 31-30 overtime loss at Detroit, a game that turned into a shootout once their passing game found its rhythm in the second half. But the ground attack never really joined the party. That has to change now, because the Ravens are back home after a 41-23 win at Indianapolis and they’re built to squeeze out rushing offenses.
Baltimore’s numbers from last season already paint the picture. The Ravens allowed 106.7 rushing yards per game, good for 10th, and gave up just 4.2 yards per carry, which ranked 11th.
They also forced 66 tackles for loss and held opponents to 18 rushing touchdowns. In Week 1, they gave up 102 rushing yards on 5.1 per carry and two scores to the Colts, but much of that came after Baltimore had already built a 31-13 halftime lead and stretched it to a 22-point cushion in the fourth quarter.
Jonathan Taylor still got to 98 yards on 19 carries, yet the game script limited Indianapolis’ ground work.
This version of the Ravens front is also dealing with a notable loss. Nnambi Madubuike will miss the game with a neck injury, which takes away their best run defender among the down linemen.
Even so, Baltimore still has plenty to work with up front, starting with nose tackle Travis Jones and veteran Calais Campbell, who is more dangerous as a pass rusher than against the run. The same idea applies to edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who will do his part on the edge but can be worked away from the point of attack.
The real centerpiece, though, is Roquan Smith. He remains one of the NFL’s most complete linebackers, and the numbers back it up: at least 130 tackles in all three of his full seasons with Baltimore, and more than 100 tackles in each of his first eight years. He has the kind of range and instincts that let him show up everywhere.
For New Orleans, the urgency is obvious. The Saints finished 2025 with just 94.3 rushing yards per game, 28th in the league, along with a 3.7-yard average that ranked 31st and only nine rushing touchdowns. Week 1 didn’t offer much encouragement either: 91 rushing yards, 3.6 per carry, and one touchdown.
Travis Etienne was supposed to help change that after arriving as a free-agent pickup, but he managed only 46 yards on nine carries against Detroit. Too many of those runs went straight into the Lions’ strength. Against Baltimore, it would make sense for New Orleans to try getting him more off-tackle work.
The Saints could also have Alvin Kamara back after he missed the opener. Etienne was brought in to be the lead back, but Kamara would give New Orleans a different kind of weapon and create a more flexible 1-2 punch.
Kendre Miller was the most effective Saints runner in Detroit, and his blend of power and burst gives defenses something to worry about. All three backs can run inside or outside, but the Saints need more than that. They have to get someone into the second level, where big plays become available.
That starts with better work up front. New Orleans lost too many battles in the trenches against the Lions.
Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga have to create more movement on the edge so Etienne and the rest of the backfield can bounce runs outside when needed. Inside, David Edwards and Erik McCoy need to open cleaner lanes.
The plan should be clear early: test Baltimore off-tackle and see if that creates cutback chances later for Etienne, Miller, and Kamara if he’s available. Etienne is likely to get the first crack at it, but the Saints may lean on all three backs, and at times use two of them together to change the look.
If New Orleans is going to make this work, the run game has to get going early. That would ease the load on quarterback Tyler Shough, help the passing game breathe, and give the Saints more ways to stay on schedule.
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