Lamar Jackson and the Ravens wasted no time reminding everyone why they’ve shot up to second in the Super Bowl odds after Week 1. Baltimore rolled past the Indianapolis Colts, and now it comes home as a more than a touchdown favorite against the New Orleans Saints and Tyler Shough.
That line makes sense on paper, but New Orleans showed in Week 1 that it can hang around. The Saints were getting seven points against the Detroit Lions, covered, and came a 2-point conversion away from pulling off the upset in overtime. Shough was a huge part of that, throwing for 410 yards and helping produce an “insane backdoor cover” in the loss.
Baltimore, though, brings a different level of firepower. The Ravens put up 41 points against Indianapolis and looked every bit as dangerous on the ground as they did last season. Derrick Henry set the tone with 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and that kind of production could be trouble for a Saints defense that just gave up 156 rushing yards to Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 1.
The market has noticed. This is one of the bigger spreads on the Week 2 board, and the total is drawing heavy OVER money after both teams cleared 60 points in their openers. Baltimore and Indianapolis combined for 64 points, while New Orleans and Detroit finished at 61 in overtime.
SI Betting’s senior editor Iain MacMillan is leaning the Saints in his Road to 272 column, pointing to the size of the number and Baltimore’s injury situation at receiver. He wrote:
“The Ravens looked impressive in Week 1 against the Colts, but how much of that was them being back to their 2024 form (complementary), and how much of it was Indianapolis also returning to their 2024 form (derogatory)? One thing we can say for certain is that their already thin wide receiver room has taken a significant hit already.
Rookie Ja'Kobi Lane is out for several weeks with a fractured wrist, and Zay Flowers is questionable for this game with a hamstring injury. That's going to hurt their ability to score this week.
The Saints put up a valiant fight against a really good Lions team in Week 1, and I think as the season goes on, head coach Kellen Moore is going to get more recognition for how good a job he has done in New Orleans.
Can the Saints win? Maybe not, but I'm going to back New Orleans getting 8.5 points.”
That thinking lines up with the case for New Orleans to stay inside the number. Baltimore allowed 23 points to Indianapolis, and the Saints’ passing game showed enough against Detroit to suggest they can keep pressure on a defense that hasn’t exactly been airtight in recent years.
The OVER also has a clear path. Shough threw for 400 yards in the loss, and the Saints have already shown they can turn a game into a scramble late. Baltimore’s offense, meanwhile, looked explosive in Week 1 and could be even more dangerous if it’s able to keep leaning on Henry and Jackson.
For Week 2, the prediction points to a high-scoring game in Baltimore, with the Ravens still positioned to start 2-0.
In Other News...
Saints Defense Has A Brandon Staley Twist Fans Need To Watch
The Saints leaned into a more unconventional defensive look against the Lions, and it was easy to see Brandon Staleys influence in the way the rotation was handled. Instead of sticking rigidly with the usual personnel, New Orleans mixed in cornerback Martin Emerson for starter Quincy Riley and gave linebacker Danny Stutsman turns in place of Pete Werner, a reminder that this staff is willing to use game action as a development tool, not just a reward for the established names.
For Kellen Moore and Staley, the idea is straightforward: build depth now so the defense has more answers later. Emersons return was especially notable because it was his first game action since 2024 after recovering from a torn Achilles, and the Saints clearly wanted to ease him back while also getting a closer look at what he can handle. How far that rotation expands from here will be worth watching, because it could say a lot about how this defense is being shaped beyond the current week. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Have A Week 2 Concern Fans Cant Ignore
The Saints got a little healthier on the margins this week, with tight end Juwan Johnson back as a limited participant after missing time, and running back Alvin Kamara still trending toward a return after working his way back from an MCL sprain. Even so, the injury report carried more than a little attention for New Orleans, because wide receiver Chris Olave showed up limited with a hamstring issue and pass rusher Chase Young was listed the same way with a calf concern.
For a team trying to steady itself early in the season, those are the names worth watching most closely. The Saints have enough moving parts already, and any limitation for Olave affects the passing game, while Youngs status matters to a defense that wants pressure without having to manufacture it. The Ravens had their own lengthy list of non-participants, but for New Orleans the bigger question is whether two key starters can get through the week without this becoming something more than a routine September injury note. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Just Sent A Strong Signal About A Rookie Running Back
The Saints made a notable roster move this week by promoting rookie running back CJ Donaldson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, a clear sign that the undrafted Ohio State back has quickly earned their attention. His path to the active roster came as the team needed a replacement for long snapper Zach Wood, who was placed on injured reserve, creating an opening New Orleans used to elevate a young back rather than simply shuffle depth at another position.
Scott Daly was signed to the practice squad to handle the long-snapping duties, which frees the Saints to keep Donaldson in the building with a more prominent role. For a rookie who arrived without draft-day fanfare, the move at least suggests the team sees enough in him to keep him close as they sort out the backfield and decide how much responsibility he can handle going forward. [Read more 🡒]