The Saints are back in the Superdome for their home opener, and the numbers around this Week 3 matchup with the Raiders tell a pretty clear story: both teams arrive with momentum, both teams have reasons to feel good, and both teams have something real on the line.
Las Vegas comes in off a 26-14 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers, good for a 2-0 start. New Orleans answered with a 24-17 upset of the Baltimore Ravens to grab its first win and move to 1-1. So while the records are different, the energy is the same: two teams trying to turn an early-season jolt into something bigger.
The Raiders’ pass rush has been one of the loudest numbers so far. They’re tied for first in the NFL with eight sacks through two games, and the pressure has come from everywhere.
Five different Raiders already have at least one sack, which makes them harder to game-plan for and even harder to block when they’re teeing off. That matters because New Orleans’ offensive line has already allowed eight sacks this season, and now the Saints will be without starting left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. for an extended stretch after he landed on IR with a high ankle sprain.
On the other side, Las Vegas has gotten a fast start from rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses, the fifth-round pick wearing No. 35.
The California product has already made his presence felt with two interceptions, tied for first in the league, and three passes defensed, tied for seventh. That kind of early ball production can change the feel of a game in a hurry.
There’s also a familiar face at quarterback for the Raiders. Kirk Cousins has played the Saints nine times in his career and owns a 5-4 record in those matchups, a .556 mark. He most recently swept the division series against New Orleans in 2025 as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, and now he heads into the Superdome running Klint Kubiak’s offense.
For New Orleans, this weekend carries an extra layer. The Saints are celebrating their 60th season as an NFL franchise, and Sunday doubles as the home opener inside the Caesars Superdome for that anniversary year.
The biggest issue on the field may be the Saints’ run defense. After going against Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry in back-to-back weeks, New Orleans has allowed an average of 136.5 rushing yards per game. That challenge gets no easier with Ashton Jeanty coming in after piling up 210 all-purpose yards so far.
New Orleans has also gotten a major lift from Tyler Shough, who has quickly become the quarterback of the future and the present. The Louisville product leads the league with 662 passing yards, and now he’ll try to throw the first touchdown pass against the Raiders’ defense this season.
There’s a bigger historical note attached to the game, too. The Raiders haven’t opened a season 3-0 since 2021, when Derek Carr led them to two overtime wins in the first three weeks.
That was also the last time Las Vegas made the postseason. New Orleans, meanwhile, hasn’t finished September with a winning record since 2023, when it beat the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers to open the year.
Sunday’s meeting could shape a lot more than just the standings. It already feels like one of those early games that starts telling you who these teams might really be.
In Other News...
The Saints Hero In Their Most Iconic Superdome Moment Was Unexpected
When the Saints came home to the Superdome on Sept. 25, 2006, one of the most memorable plays in franchise history almost had a different cast. Curtis DeLoatch was not even supposed to be on the punt rush, but a shortage of players sent him in at the last second, placing him in the middle of the sequence that helped define the night and fuel a 23-3 win over Atlanta.
Steve Gleasons block became the image that lives on outside the Superdome, but DeLoatchs role gave the play its finish. He was the one who recovered the loose ball for a touchdown, a reminder that some of the most iconic moments in Saints history have turned on unexpected hands being in the right place at the right time. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Have A Week 3 Depth Issue Fans Need To Watch
The Saints young depth chart took a hit this week, with two rookie draft picks ruled out for Sundays meeting with the Raiders because of injuries. It is the kind of early-season issue that can quietly reshape game-day rotation plans, especially for a team still sorting out how its newest pieces fit around established veterans and special teams roles.
Martin Emerson Jr. is listed as questionable after getting on the practice field for the first time this week, while Nathan Shepherd is expected to go despite being limited. For a Saints team trying to keep Week 3 from turning into an attrition game, the availability list matters almost as much as the matchup itself, and the injury updates on the other sideline only add another layer to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Ex-Jaguars RB Already Giving Saints Fans A Reason To Worry
Through two games, Travis Etienne Jr. has given the Saints an early reminder that a big contract does not automatically bring quick certainty. New Orleans brought in the former Jaguars running back on a deal worth $48 million, expecting him to be a key piece of the offense, but his production so far has been quieter than hoped and his yards per touch are down from last season.
Etienne has still been on the field plenty, logging a 57% snap count, but the backfield work has not been his alone. He has shared touches with other players, which is part of why it is far too early to judge the deal either way, though it is enough to keep the Saints watching closely as the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]