The Saints walked into Pittsburgh with some momentum from last week’s win over the New York Giants, but that fresh start never showed up on offense. New Orleans looked familiar in all the worst ways: slow out of the gate, sputtering when it mattered, and unable to turn a low-scoring game into anything better.
The biggest change from last week was the run game, and it swung back hard to the version Saints fans know too well. Kendre Miller’s 70 yards against the Giants sparked some optimism, but that came against one of the league’s weakest run defenses.
Pittsburgh was a different test, and the Saints had no answer. They didn’t even get to 20 rushing yards as a team.
At one point, Kurt Warner even questioned why the Saints even run the football because it's wasted yards.
One of the clearest takeaways from the offense was how little the Saints are doing with Barion Brown. He flashed in two very different ways.
First, he hauled in a deep ball for 49 yards, the kind of play that matched what he had shown all preseason. Then later, he worked a screen and turned it into useful yardage by making something happen after the catch.
Those are the kinds of plays that should be part of his regular role, not just occasional gadget usage. Kellen Moore said the team views Brown as more than just a return specialist, but that’s not reflected in his usage.
It needs to be moving forward.
The game also came down to missed chances in scoring territory. Daniel Carlson missed a field goal, and Tyler Shough threw his first career red zone interception.
That was at least six points left on the field in a game the Saints lost by six. With the defense keeping the score low, that kind of waste was the difference.
Even in a loss that won’t do much for the overall mood, the Saints did get something encouraging from their pass rush. Carl Granderson has been rolling since returning from injury, stacking 1.5 sacks in each of the last three games.
That puts him at 5.5 sacks, close to his season total of 6 sacks last year. Chase Young has joined that surge too, with 1.5 sacks in each of the last two games.
The pair has been productive, even if the rest of the team hasn’t followed.
In Other News...
Saints Face A Fascinating Paris Test Against A Familiar Steelers Blueprint
The Saints trip to Paris brings an unusual backdrop for a matchup that already carries plenty of intrigue, with Kellen Moore now tasked with steering New Orleans offense against a Steelers staff led by Mike McCarthy. The coaching connection matters here because Moore once worked under McCarthy in Dallas, giving this one a layer of familiarity even as the two sides are likely to lean on very different ideas about how to attack the same field.
For New Orleans, the challenge is less about the setting than the chess match it creates. The Saints will have to sort through how to get their offense moving against a Pittsburgh blueprint that has long asked opponents to stay patient and precise, and this is the kind of game where the details can decide whether drives stay alive or stall early. It should be a revealing test of how quickly Moore can shape the Saints plan when the margin for error is likely to be slim. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Still Have One Thing Keeping The NFC South Race Alive
A 2-4 start has not exactly put New Orleans in a comfortable place, but the Saints have not faded from the NFC South conversation either. The roster still has enough talent to make things interesting, and even with injuries hitting key offensive pieces, there are reasons to believe this team can hang around if the offense keeps moving in the right direction.
Chris Olave has given the passing game a real anchor, and Tyler Shoughs presence adds another layer to what the Saints are trying to build. Carolina may be viewed as the division favorite, but New Orleans still has a path if the defense tightens up and the offense continues to show the kind of upside that has kept the season from slipping away completely. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans Now Have A New Concern About The Paris Game
The Saints trip to Paris was always going to be one of the more unusual stops on their schedule, but the backdrop has gotten more complicated as the game with the Steelers approaches. Recent protests in the city have prompted a heavier security posture, and French authorities have moved to keep the situation under control while the NFL works with officials in both countries to make sure the game can go on as planned.
For New Orleans fans, that means the focus has shifted from the novelty of an international showcase to the logistics around it. Commissioner Roger Goodell has already been in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron about the matchup and the leagues broader future in Paris, underscoring how much is riding on this one game beyond what happens on the field. [Read more 🡒]