The Saints are coming out of the bye week with a real chance to reset things, but the path to a win in Cleveland is pretty clear: they have to squeeze every edge out of the matchup in front of them.
Start with the biggest break on the board. The Browns won’t have Deshaun Watson, and that changes the shape of the game immediately.
Watson has been the engine behind Cleveland’s comeback wins this season and, for the first time in years, has looked like a starting QB. The Browns’ offense still isn’t a strength, but it’s been good enough to get results.
Now Shedeur Sanders is set to start in his place.
Sanders had flashes last season, but for the most part he struggled when he was thrown into the starting role. That wasn’t exactly a surprise given where he was drafted and how much development he still needed. Even so, this is another chance for him to make a case for a bigger role in 2026, especially with the Browns having chosen Watson instead.
For New Orleans, though, the bigger issue is on its own offense. The Browns’ defense is the better unit, and their defensive line can wreck a game on its own.
That’s a bad matchup for a Saints offensive line that has had real trouble holding up. If that part of the game goes sideways, everything else gets harder fast.
Kellen Moore has to come out of the bye with answers. The Saints need more help for the tackles, and the play-action game should be a bigger part of the plan. If the protection gets some support, the pass-blocking issues could ease up a bit, and that would give Tyler Shough a much better chance to operate.
There’s also the possibility of Kelvin Banks Jr. returning, which would help. And with Jordyn Tyson expected to make his career debut, the Saints could have more juice in the passing game if Shough has time to throw.
In that scenario, New Orleans’ aerial attack could look its best since Drew Brees. The talent is there for Shough and the rest of the offense to make a real push toward the Saints’ third win of the season - but only if the pocket holds up.
The run game matters too. If the Saints can get that going, it would open everything up and let Moore’s playcalling breathe a little. That’s the kind of balance New Orleans needs if it wants to take full advantage of this spot.
In Other News...
Saints Suddenly Face A Browns QB Twist That May Change Sunday
The Browns quarterback picture took a quick turn this week after Deshaun Watson was placed in concussion protocol following their Week 8 loss, only to clear the protocol in time to potentially be active for Week 9. For a Saints team preparing for Cleveland, that kind of late-week movement matters, even if it does not yet change the official depth chart heading into Sunday.
Shedeur Sanders remains the Browns designated starter for the matchup in New Orleans, keeping the focus on the rookie as the Saints game approaches. Watsons status still leaves the door open for another shift soon after, with the expectation that he could be back in line to start in Week 10. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Just Made A Backfield Move Fans Didnt See Coming
The Saints have been reshaping their ground game in a hurry, and the latest move came with a jolt: Kendre Miller is out after seven games, even though he had led the team in rushing attempts and rushing yards. For a backfield that has already gone through a coaching change with the firing of run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti, it is another sign that New Orleans is not waiting around to see if the current formula eventually clicks.
Miller, a third-round pick in the 2023 draft, never quite found his footing in New Orleans because of injuries and inconsistency, and the Saints have now added another layer to the competition by claiming Audric Estime off waivers. The roster churn leaves the backfield in flux as the team tries to sort out who fits best in the weeks ahead, and it also raises the possibility that more moves are coming as New Orleans continues to rework the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Defense Found Bulletin Board Material At The Perfect Time
A quiet pregame exchange has given the Saints defense a little extra edge at just the right moment. Shedeur Sanders was non-committal when asked about New Orleans defense, and Carl Granderson said the remark landed in a way that can help sharpen a group looking for any edge it can get. For a defense that has been searching for cleaner stretches of play, even a small slight can become useful fuel.
The timing matters because the Saints are coming off a rough outing against Pittsburgh, where the defense did not do enough to consistently get off the field. Granderson pointed to Sanders comments and other chirping around the team as part of the motivation, and New Orleans will be hoping that added edge shows up on the field rather than just in the buildup. [Read more 🡒]