The New Orleans Saints have a run game problem, and it’s gotten ugly in a hurry.
Monday’s 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons was probably the most frustrating defeat of the season so far, and the ground game was a huge reason why. On national TV, the Saints looked stuck in neutral, managing only 25 rushing yards before the fourth quarter.
That’s not just a bad night - it’s part of a larger collapse. New Orleans is 27th in the league with 354 rushing yards, and if you strip out Tyler Shough’s scrambles, that number drops to 282, which puts the Saints 31st in the NFL.
The personnel picture hasn’t helped. Travis Etienne Jr. has been the lead halfback this season, and even though he went on injured reserve last week, his 128 rushing yards still lead the team heading into Week 5.
Alvin Kamara has 74 rushing yards across three games after missing Week 1, and Shough is right behind him with 72 rushing yards of his own. That’s where things stand for New Orleans right now: the quarterback is doing too much of the dirty work on the ground, and that’s not a sustainable formula.
The bigger issue, though, is how little the Saints have leaned on the run. Against Atlanta, they called just seven run plays in the first two quarters. That kind of imbalance is hard to explain, especially for a team that spent the offseason talking up its ground game and invested in it with Etienne and guard David Edwards as two of its biggest summer signings.
Instead, the offense has tilted heavily toward the pass. Shough has already thrown 180 passes through four weeks, which ranks second in franchise history behind Drew Brees’ 191 attempts in 2012.
Meanwhile, the Saints have only 99 rushing attempts total, with running backs responsible for 95 of them. That’s not a balanced offense.
It’s a one-sided one, and it’s asking too much of a young quarterback to keep carrying that load.
The challenge only gets tougher from here. New Orleans next faces the Minnesota Vikings, and Brian Flores’ defense has been one of the league’s best against the run, allowing only 378 yards. If the Saints don’t find answers quickly, that matchup could put an even harsher spotlight on a problem they already can’t afford to ignore.
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Saints Domecoming Disaster Got Even More Disturbing In The Stands
The 20-year Domecoming game was supposed to be a homecoming of remembrance at Caesars Superdome, but it turned into another rough day for a Saints team already searching for footing. Atlanta rolled to a 45-24 win, and the loss left New Orleans winless at home, adding another layer of disappointment to a day built around honoring the first game back after Hurricane Katrina.
The atmosphere in the stands grew more troubling during the game when a Saints fan fell on the steep steps in the 600 level. Nearby fans quickly stepped in to help, and the fan appeared conscious, but the moment underscored how uneven the afternoon felt for everyone in the building. Tyler Shough later acknowledged the frustration around the loss, and with the Saints still trying to steady themselves at home, the celebration of the occasion ended with more concern than joy. [Read more 🡒]
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The day also stretched outside the stadium, where a second line parade rolled through Lafayette Square and fans of all ages joined in to honor the moment that helped define a generation. Much of the emotion centered on Steve Gleasons famous blocked punt, a play still remembered as a symbol of hope and resilience, and one that continues to give this city and this franchise a shared memory worth revisiting. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Trade Deadline Could Force Tough Calls On Familiar Veterans
The Saints have reached the point in a difficult season where the trade deadline is less about adding a quick fix and more about weighing what kind of roster they want to keep building. Cesar Ruiz, Will McDonald IV and Justin Reid are all mentioned as possible targets, a mix that speaks to different needs on both sides of the ball, from protection up front to pass-rush help and veteran steadiness in the back end. It is the kind of deadline chatter that usually shows how thin the margin has become for a team trying to find answers.
New Orleans has already lived through enough inconsistency to know the next move has to matter beyond the moment. Any deal would come with a cost, and the real tension is not just whether the Saints can make a trade, but whether they are willing to part with familiar veterans to do it. The deadline is still ahead, and for a team in search of traction, the hardest calls may be the ones that determine who stays in the building and who becomes the price of urgency. [Read more 🡒]