The Saints come out of the bye with a clear test in front of them, and it starts with a Browns defense that gives New Orleans a real chance to reset its offense. Cleveland has been vulnerable against the run, and that’s exactly where the Saints need to lean if they want this game to look different from the first stretch of the season.
The numbers point straight at the ground game. The Browns are 24th in rushing defense, giving up 126.9 yards per game and 4.68 yards per carry.
They were gashed for 200 rushing yards by the Steelers last week. That should be the opening the Saints have been looking for, especially with their own run game stuck in neutral.
New Orleans has had trouble moving the ball on the ground all season, and C.J. Donaldson’s injury only makes that issue bigger.
But there is at least one fresh piece in the mix now: Audric Estime is back on the roster after being claimed off waivers. Estime flashed late last season when the Saints were trying to patch together a rushing attack, and he also showed promise during the preseason.
His release before the season surprised plenty of people, and now he returns to an offense averaging just 86 rushing yards per game, which ranks 28th in the NFL.
That matters because if the Saints drift into a pass-heavy script, they’ll be walking right into Cleveland’s strength. The Browns rank sixth against the pass, allowing only 196 yards per game.
Their success there starts inside, where Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, and Adin Huntington have combined for 11 sacks. Quarterbacks can’t climb the pocket against that front, and there’s also pressure coming off the edge from Isaiah McGuire, who has 3 sacks, and Jared Verse.
Verse has 0 sacks right now, but he is still an edge rusher the Saints have to be aware of.
The Saints are averaging 229 passing yards per game, which ranks 14th in the NFL. That gives them enough through the air to stay alive, but only if the run game keeps Cleveland honest.
If New Orleans gets into the red zone, the finish has to be better, too. The Browns are allowing touchdowns on 73.9% of opponents’ red-zone chances, while the Saints are converting only 52.2% of theirs.
Chris Olave remains the centerpiece of the passing game, even with Jordyn Tyson trying to work his way back onto the field. Olave’s production has dipped a bit lately because of the attention he draws, and that figures to continue against Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell. Those Browns corners play physical, so Kellen Moore will need to get creative to free Olave up.
The path for New Orleans is pretty clear. Run the ball against a defense that has been leaky there, stay balanced, and keep Cleveland’s pass rush from taking over. The Browns have 21 sacks, with 11 coming from the interior, so the Saints need to make them defend the run instead of teeing off on Tyler Shough.
That protection piece matters even more because the Saints have already allowed 15 sacks, and Shough is dealing with broken bones in his non-throwing hand. So the formula is simple: run it, protect Shough, and build the offense around motion, shifts, and heavy play-action. Force the Browns to think instead of react.
Whether that produces a real step forward or just another familiar result is the question hanging over Sunday.
In Other News...
Saints Give Audric Estim Another Shot With Depth Suddenly In Play
With the backfield picture changing, the Saints are taking another look at a familiar name in Audric Estim. New Orleans brought the running back back into the fold after claiming him off waivers from Cleveland, a move that gives the team another body in a position group where depth can shift quickly and where every practice rep matters.
Estim already had a brief run with the Saints this season, and the staff now gets a fresh chance to decide where he fits. His role from here will be shaped by what he shows in practice and, if he gets the opportunity, in games, as New Orleans sorts through its options and tries to settle on the right mix in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Face A Very Different Browns Offense In Week 9
The Browns are suddenly looking at a very different quarterback setup for Week 9, and the Saints have to prepare accordingly. Deshaun Watson was added late to the concussion protocol and did not practice Thursday, which has put his status for the game in serious doubt as New Orleans gets ready for a matchup that had been expected to feature Clevelands usual starter.
Shedeur Sanders is now lined up to take the first snaps for the Browns, with Dillon Gabriel behind him and Taylen Green as the emergency third quarterback. Cleveland has not officially ruled Watson out yet, but the recent practice reports point in one direction, leaving the Saints to adjust for a game plan that could look a lot different than the one they were initially preparing for. [Read more 🡒]
Cesar Ruiz Is Turning Personal Tragedy Into A Message Saints Fans Will Feel
Cesar Ruiz entered this season with a deeply personal reason to think about family and the road ahead. The Saints offensive lineman became a father earlier this year when his son Caiden was born during training camp, adding a new layer to a life already shaped by loss and responsibility.
Ruiz has also opened up about losing his own father in a fatal accident as a child, and he is now using that experience to speak about road safety in a broader way. His work with AAAs Slow Down, Move Over campaign puts him in a position to remind drivers about the stakes of paying attention and giving roadside workers the space they need. [Read more 🡒]