The New Orleans Saints are still in search of their first win as they strike out on the road for the first time. Is Seattle where it happens?
The Saints have significant injury questions in the trenches and are facing one of the top pressure teams in the NFL. Spencer Rattler is still seeking his first win as a starting QB, and there'll be no easy road found at Lumen Field.
THE GAME: Saints at Seahawks
- When: 3:05 p.m. (central), Sunday, Sept. 21
- Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
- Series history: Saints lead 10-8
- Last meeting: 2022, Saints 39, Seahawks 32
- Betting: Seahawks -6.5
- TV: CBS
- Listen: WWL AM-870; FM-105.3 & the Audacy app
- Pregame: First take with Charlie Long & Steve Geller, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.; Countdown to Kickoff with Bobby Hebert & Steve Geller, 1-3 p.m.
With all that in mind, here are the top 3 things I'm watching for when the Saints (0-2) face off with the Seahawks (1-1).
1. Pressure, pressure pressure
I usually try to stick to one side of the ball with these, but the pressure generated by both defenses will be the story ... just for different reasons.
The Saints have a banged-up offensive line group that could potentially have a backup RT (Asim Richards) and LG (UDFA Torricelli Simpkins) starting, depending on the statue of Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning, both of whom have been listed as questionable. This might just be the worst possible time for that, considering the Seahawks currently lead the NFL in terms of pressuring the quarterback. Seattle has generated pressure on 38.5% of its pass rush reps, according to Pro Football Reference, something made all the more impressive by the fact that they've sent just 8 blitzes through two weeks, the second lowest figure in the NFL.
The Saints, meanwhile, have only pressured the quarterback on 18.8% of its pass rush reps, which ranks 16th in the league.
But then there's this stat:
TOTAL SACKS
- Saints: 8 (T2)
- Seahawks: 4 (T17)
It's an interesting statistical anomaly, but be sure that if the Saints don't start pressuring the quarterback at a higher clip, they'll fall down the league’s sack rankings quickly. The lack of pressure is also directly correlated to the Saints' lack of success on third and long. It's also directly connected, at least in my opinion, to the absence of Chase Young, who has been ruled out for the third consecutive week with a calf injury. Chase Young is currently tied with the league in sacks, but it’s probably on the other half of that duo to win 1-on-1. When Cam Jordan generated pressure in Week 1, the defense had teeth. When he didn’t, well, we all saw what Mac Jones did.
If the Saints don't at least stay competitive in the pressure battle, they'll have a hard time winning this game.
Related
Poise in the noise?
That's been the mantra for the week: Be poised in the noise -- who doesn't love a good rhyme?
But that might be a lot easier said than done. The Saints have been practicing with increased volume this week and they've got a good number of players and coaches that know how to handle it. One of those players is Brandin Cooks, who hasn't played in Seattle since 2019, but had plenty of rowdy experiences in that building during his time with the Rams.
“It’s a great environment, obviously it’s a loud stadium," Cooks said, "they’ve been known for that historically. ... I think, you know, the poise that Kellen talks about throughout the week and being able to just be on the same page is gonna be a great test for us on the road.”
One of the pleasant surprises of this season has been Spencer Rattler and how comfortable he's looked leading the Saints offense. The caveat is both of those games have come at home and other than a frustratingly large number of 49ers fans, it was a comfortable environment. This week that's different, and it's the latest opportunity for Rattler to show growth.
Rattler went 0-6 in his starts as a rookie, but things seemed to get worse in road environments. Here were his numbers in those three opportunities:
- at Chargers: 12-24 (50%), 156 yards
- at Packers: 15-30 (50%), 153 yards, interception
- at Bucs: 26-42 (62%), 240 yards, TD
In all: 53-96 (55%), 549 yards, TD, INT ... and the Saints were outscored 87-27.
There's no sugarcoating how important of a narrative game this is for the young QB. He's opened some eyes with an impressive start, but fair or not he's still just one ugly game away from turning into the proverbial pumpkin. If he can go into a hostile environment and keep things rolling, even in a losing effort, the conversation continues to be about complementary football. If you come out of that game seeing the QB as one of the key reasons you lost, the Tyler Shough countdown starts again in earnest.
That's the rub of being a 5th round pick at the QB position. The expectations are low, so you can deliver in a losing effort and have it viewed positively. But that only lasts as long as you continue to deliver, at least until you get some goodwill banked. This is a prime opportunity for that.
Related
Grupe gang
I never thought I'd be saying this during a near-perfect training camp, but Blake Grupe has been a serious issue for this team over the first two weeks.
In the grand scheme it's been two missed kicks (37 and 40 yards), and you can't look at either scoreline and say that 3 points cost you the game. But those misses did change the games, and scoreboard pressure creates real-life pressure.
What's been the most concerning is that there's no tangible excuse of a bad snap or hold, it's just been missed kicks. The second was such a mishit that the ball spun in a way you'll almost never see from him and simply sliced out the frame. There was an opportunity in the first half against the 49ers for a 59-yard attempt, and it didn't seem like the head coach even considered it. That punt from the 41 went into the end zone for a net of 21 yards and the 49ers drove for points on the ensuing possession. To open the second half the kickoff was left short of the landing zone for a penalty that allowed the 49ers to start at their 40 yard line. Again, the explanation: He just mishit it. When you consider how effective the Saints have been in kick coverage, that’s a massive penalty (the defense ultimately saved the situation by forcing a turnover, but the mistake remains).
Sure, I get it, kickers won't be perfect. But when you're operating on as thin of margins as this Saints team is in 2025, you need to be as close to perfect as possible -- and Grupe set the stage for a season that felt like it should be close to perfect. The longer this goes the more you have to question whether we've got a yips-like situation. You have to be able to trust your kicker and it's hard to feel that way right now.
All that said: I'm pretty sure Blake is one good game away from being locked back in. You've just got to keep going to him. I'm honestly disappointed that the Saints didn't try from 59, because I'm pretty sure Blake nails it and the confidence conversation goes out the window.
Maybe getting away from home will help? All I know is the Saints can't afford to be leaving points on the field. If that part of the game continues to be an issue there'll be no choice but to start looking at alternatives.
LAGNIAPPE
The Saints could be thin at the WR position this week with Devaughn Vele questionable due to a hip issue. If he can't go, expect to see Kevin Austin Jr., who was signed from the practice squad ahead of the game. ... The Saints waived rookie TE Moliki Matavao and elevated Treyton Welch, a sign that they just didn't feel the rookie was getting it done. I'd tend to agree, and primarily as a blocker. There were at least a few plays against the 49ers that looked set up to win, but a block got blown up. Can't have that. ... Building off that previous note, one of the issues I saw in film review was RB blitz pickup. I counted at least three times where a play was blown up by the RB's assignment. Can't have that. It seems the Saints agreed, because one of their first individual drills of the week for the RBs was working on that part of the game. I wouldn't be surprised if you begin to see a bit more Devin Neal if those struggles continue, because I think that's an impressive part of his game, even as a rookie. ... Rashid Shaheed has been solid to start the year, but I'm still waiting for his first bomb touchdown. The Saints look like they could be without both starting safety Julian Love and his backup Nick Emmanwori. 3 pointers and layups, that's what Kellen Moore wants Rattler to attack. I want to attack over the top, and I want to do it early. There's no better way to take the crowd out of the equation than to get on the scoreboard first, particularly when it's a big play. Don't be afraid to let it rip. ... The Saints will be wearing their alternate white helmets for the first time. When they went out to Seattle under similar circumstances in 2019 they wore the color rush jerseys and upset Seattle en route to six consecutive wins, five started by Teddy Bridgewater. Just saying.