New Orleans Saints
Last game: Lost 45-24 vs. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
Offensive standout: WR Chris Olave
There weren’t many positives for the Saints’ offense on Monday night. Alvin Kamara’s two rushing touchdowns were a bright spot for the team’s banged-up backfield, but they came from close range on a night when he finished with just 23 yards. Olave couldn’t reach the end zone to pair his 116 yards with a touchdown, but he was the most consistent threat Atlanta’s defense faced.
Defensive standout: S Julian Blackmon
Blackmon led his team with 10 tackles, but a safety finishing a game with the most tackles is typically not a great overall sign for a defense. Perhaps the best individual play for the Saints’ defense came, once again, from edge rusher Chase Young. It didn’t occur while he was chasing the quarterback, however, but rather when he deftly adjusted mid-rush to leap up and knock away Michael Penix Jr.’s pass that looked destined for a wide-open Bijan Robinson and a potential touchdown.
Telling quote: “Really disappointing game for us. Obviously, I thought the Dome was an incredible night, incredible energy. We obviously did a poor job just preparing our football team. We really, in all three phases, did not do enough to win this game. Atlanta came in and played a lot better than us.” — Saints head coach Kellen Moore.
Stat behind the stat — Powered by Microsoft Copilot: 159
One week after a fourth-quarter collapse against Las Vegas, New Orleans surrendered 205 rushing yards to Atlanta on Monday night. The concern isn’t just the total yardage. It’s where the damage is occurring. The Saints allowed multiple runs of 50-plus yards during the stretch and have yielded seven rushing touchdowns in their last two games. Early in the season, New Orleans appeared capable of winning shootouts. The trend developing now is more troubling. The Saints aren’t losing because they’re unable to score. They’re losing because opponents are controlling games on the ground. That’s a much harder issue to solve without personnel changes.