It wasn't always pretty, but that's OK, there are no style points in the NFL. The only number that matters is 1-0.
The Saints outlasted the Titans 16-15. They forced turnovers. They made plays down the stretch and iced the game with the offense on the field. There was a lot to like.
With that in mind, here are my stock up and stock down players heading into Week 2.
THREE UP
1. THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
This is a bit of a copout, but it'd be genuinely unfair to pick any single defensive back for this spot. They were all fantastic. Three had interceptions (Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo and Marcus Maye), another in Isaac Yiadom was a player that created Maye's interception as he filled in for Lattimore. Later when Alontae Taylor (who also had several nice plays) left the field with an injury, Ugo Amadi came on and made a big third down stop (and another near interception).
Tyrann Mathieu was solid as always. The reserves made nice plays downfield on special teams. That group was already expected to be the strength of this defense and they showed out big time today.
It took the Saints 13 games to log three interceptions in the 2022 season. They did that in less than four quarters today.
2. WR CHRIS OLAVE
It was a slow start, but when he got going ... boy was it impressive. He broke loose for a big play over the top in the first half, he converted key third downs late with the Saints milking clock. He forced a PI that wasn't called on a deep ball. He ended the game with 8 catches for 112 yards.
Chris Olave is a guy who always looks like he's idling in 2nd gear even when he's screaming downfield at full speed and making acrobatic catches. His connection with Derek Carr is only going to build throughout the season. This was an excellent way to start.
3. DE CARL GRANDERSON
The Saints made a statement early in training camp by projecting Carl Granderson as the starter across from Cam Jordan without much of a battle. He showed out early and often in camp, but it was fair to wonder if that was a mirage.
It wasn't. Granderson started this game off by making life hell on Ryan Tannehill. He finished the game with 1.5 sacks and 4 QB hits. All offseason I wondered if the Saints would be able to put someone across from Cam Jordan to keep defenses honest. It sure looks like they have it, and opposing QBs won't enjoy it.
HONORABLE MENTION: Rashid Shaheed, Blake Grupe
There could be five up in this column, but I'll stick Rashid Shaheed down here because while he had a huge game that feels like it's only scratching the surface of his potential, it did start with a VERY unfortunate fumble on the opening kickoff. That moment set the Saints behind from the jump, and it's the type of thing you can't have from your return specialist. He also maintains the thinnest of margins from the sidelines I've ever seen, and had two other plays that could've potentially been overturned. In the end, I love what I saw out of Rashid and there's only more to come. ...
The other player in this section is a guy we've seen do it time and time again throughout the preseason, and Blake Grupe delivered again when it really counted. At one point Mike Vrabel made the decision to decline a penalty and allow him to kick a 52-yarder rather than pin the Saints at 3rd and 11. He nailed it. My bet is that sort of test doesn't happen again. The Saints have their kicker.
THREE DOWN
1. LT TREVOR PENNING
It was fair to be concerned about Trevor Penning protecting Derek Carr's blindside, and the first half demonstrated why. In what was effectively Penning's second career start at left tackle, he didn't exactly shine. He got beat multiple times by Arden Key, not exactly one of the more fearsome rushers he'll see. He got beat inside, he got beat outside. Derek Carr was clearly frustrated.
There were always going to be growing pains, the question is ... are the pains actually leading to growth? At this point, I'm sticking with yes. He needs help and it's on the coaching staff to scheme up ways to help him, particularly early on in his starting career. It was a trial by fire and he got burnt.
2. THE RUN GAME
This is a bit unfair to Jamaal Williams, who I think did about as much as he could. I talked about Penning's struggles above, but it wasn't a standout day for anyone on the OL. The holes weren't there, and Williams isn't the type of slippery runner who is going to wiggle through the slivers of space that existed.
I'm sure it was a frustrating game. Jamaal was asked to keep banging his head against a wall and he finished with 45 yards on 18 carries. In the end, he was the one who iced the game slipping through for a first down. The ball did get punched out ... and that's not what you want. But he was able to get on it. No harm, no foul.
In the end I think this game just reinforced the reality of how difficult things will be on the ground until you can get Alvin Kamara back on the field.
3. KEITH KIRKWOOD
This is bottom of the barrel in a game where I think a lot of people did a lot of things well, but man ... rough moment for a veteran late in the game. The Saints run a jet sweep and pick up a first down on a drive to ice the game, and Keith Kirkwood gets called for a hold downfield. Ultimately, much like Jamaal's fumble, it didn't burn the Saints. But those are the types of mistakes that can't happen, particularly from your veterans who are on the roster because they excel at things like blocking. He'll hold himself accountable and I expect better days ahead for him, too.