The Saints got a reminder of just how quickly a left tackle absence can tilt a game.
For three quarters, New Orleans did a solid job keeping Tyler Shough upright. Then the fourth quarter arrived, and two pressures allowed by Asim Richards changed everything. Against a Raiders pass rush that was always going to be a major problem, those breakdowns landed at the worst possible time.
That matchup was already going to be under the microscope. The Raiders came in as the league leaders in sacks going into Week 3, and that challenge only grew tougher with Kelvin Banks Jr. sidelined. New Orleans still had to deal with the pressure up front, but losing a starting left tackle made the margin for error even thinner.
The Raiders finished with just two sacks, but they still won the biggest moments. The key sequence came against Richards, the lineman everyone was watching closely, and it came in the form of the kind of plays that can swing a game in an instant.
Banks is expected to miss likely the next 9 weeks, which puts a huge burden on Richards to handle that spot for much of the season. Left tackle is too important a position, and the Saints’ expectations are too high for them to keep rolling out uncertainty there every week.
That said, it would be too harsh to bury Richards based only on how the game unraveled late. He did not have an overall terrible outing. But once the trouble started, it snowballed fast, and that fourth-quarter stretch raised the obvious question: what happens if Richards is not ready for the moment?
A strip sack and then a pressure that led to an interception on back-to-back drives is the nightmare scenario. It should not happen often, if ever again, but either play can happen at any time. That is the danger of living with pressure off the edge.
And that is why Richards matters so much. The blind side will not be as protected as it would have been with Banks, but the Saints cannot afford for it to become a weakness either. On Sunday, in the fourth quarter, that is exactly what it became.
If Richards can simply be steady, New Orleans has enough talent at the skill positions to make noise. The flashes have already been there this season. But none of that matters if Shough does not have enough time to get the ball to them.
In Other News...
Saints Suddenly Face A Bigger NFC South Problem Than One Loss
The NFC South took on a strange look after a weekend that felt like it could have helped the Saints, only for the picture to get murkier. Tampa Bay came out of a disappointing loss to Minnesota with Baker Mayfield dealing with a finger injury, Carolina dropped its game against Cleveland while star cornerback Jaycee Horn was hurt and expected to miss most of the season, and Atlanta powered past Green Bay behind a big showing from Bijan Robinson.
For New Orleans, the loss to Las Vegas was frustrating enough on its own after a fourth-quarter collapse, but the broader concern is how quickly the division race could shift if the Saints cannot clean up their own issues. The questions around Travis Etienne's injury and the pass rush only add to the uncertainty, leaving a team that needed clarity instead staring at a division where no one looks especially secure. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Olave Just Sent A Strong Message Saints Fans Will Notice
Chris Olave made a noticeable statement in the Saints season opener, and it had as much to do with what was on his head as what he did with the ball in his hands. Wearing a Guardian Cap in a live game for the first time, the receiver went out and delivered a career-high 182 receiving yards, giving New Orleans an explosive performance while also turning heads with a new bit of protection.
Afterward, Olave made it clear the look is here to stay. He confirmed the Guardian Cap will be a permanent part of his game-day routine, and the company followed by naming him its latest signature athlete, alongside players such as Jalen Pitre and Romeo Doubs. For Saints fans, it was a strong sign that one of their top pass-catchers is embracing both his role in the offense and the extra step hes taking to stay on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Still Control One Crucial Thing After A Brutal Start
A rough start in Las Vegas left the Saints at 1-2, but the early-season damage is not nearly as final as it might have looked in the moment. New Orleans is still sitting in a crowded NFC South, where the division race remains wide open because several teams are dealing with similar or worse records.
The next stretch is where the season can start to take shape for the Saints. With upcoming games that can change the look of the standings quickly, New Orleans still has a clear path to keep itself in the mix and preserve its playoff hopes, even after an uneven opening month. [Read more 🡒]