The Saints are finally walking into a game with something that feels a lot closer to real expectations. Not just hope, not just curiosity - expectation. After a Year 1 rebuild and a Year 2 that’s produced some eye-catching plays, a few surprise results and a growing number of believers, New Orleans now gets a Week 3 test against a 2-0 Raiders team that has found its footing too.
If the Saints offense is going to answer that challenge, it starts up front. And it starts with keeping Tyler Shough upright without Kelvin Banks Jr.
That’s a difficult assignment even before Maxx Crosby enters the picture. Crosby has lined up on the right side of the defensive line only 15.3% of the time through two weeks, according to Pro Football Focus charting, which means the Saints may be looking at a matchup with Asim Richards, their backup at left tackle.
Expect help to come from left guard David Edwards, along with chip blocks from Noah Fant and Juwan Johnson. The danger, of course, is a blown assignment that leaves a back such as CJ Donaldson isolated against Crosby, the kind of breakdown that can wreck a drive in a hurry.
The run game has to hold up too, and that’s been a sore spot. New Orleans committed $58.5 million this spring to the ground attack through free agent deals for Edwards, Fant and Travis Etienne Jr., but the results have lagged badly.
The Saints are averaging just 3.0 yards per carry, which ties them for 30th in the league. The line has been getting knocked backward, combo blocks aren’t coming together cleanly, and there hasn’t been much room once runners reach the line.
When they do get through, the burst to turn a decent gain into a big one just hasn’t been there. Alvin Kamara looked rusty against the Ravens and needs a sharper showing Sunday.
The one bright spot: Donaldson, a rookie free agent, has converted all three of his fourth-down rushing attempts.
New Orleans also can’t settle for field goals if it gets chances near the goal line. Las Vegas has been one of the toughest defenses in football at ending drives with points, allowing opponents to finish with scoring on just 20.8% of possessions.
Only the Patriots at 18.2% and the Seahawks at 15.8% are better in that category. The Raiders have kept teams out of the red zone for the most part, and when opponents have been pinned near their own end zone, Las Vegas has still made life difficult.
The Saints, though, have been efficient enough to matter here, ranking 11th in scoring rate at 43.5% of drives and 10th in red zone efficiency at 71.4%. Against this defense, that has to continue.
And then there’s the part of the offense that has become a calling card under Kellen Moore: the explosive pass game. The Saints are second in the NFL with 11 completions of 20 yards or more, and they had been first before the Packers edged ahead by one catch on Thursday Night Football.
Chris Olave has been a steady downfield target for Shough, hauling in six of those shot plays, while Juwan Johnson and Devaughn Vele have also built chemistry with the quarterback. The Raiders have been vulnerable enough to give up six deep passes through two weeks, which puts them near the league average and just behind the Ravens, who have allowed seven.
The chances will be there. Shough just has to trust what he sees and let it rip.
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 🡒]