The Saints and Cardinals have a lot in common heading into a Thursday Night Football showdown.
Both teams are 2-4, but sit just a game out of the lead in a division that does not have a single winning record after 6 weeks. Both have had to play without key members of their receiving room, and have struggled as a result.
And frankly, both expected a lot better.
But only one of those teams gets to start a potential turnaround in Week 7. The other team gets to spend another day wondering just how far things might sink.
Check out this week's Saints-Cardinals preview from Inside Black & Gold in the player below, which includes Bo Brack, host of the PHNX Cardinals podcast. Can't see the player? Click here.
Here's a six-pack of things to know heading into a TNF showdown out in Glendale.
1. ANOTHER ANDY DALTON WEEK?
Both Andy Dalton and Jameis Liston were listen on the injury report this week, but it was Dalton who was upgraded to full on Wednesday and spoke with the media. Head coach Dennis Allen declined to name a starter prior to gameday, but it's likely the veteran gets another week. Winston was the "emergency" third option in Week 6, and neither QB has a gameday designation. It's possible that same platoon continues.
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2. CHRIS OLAVE IS BACK
The Saints will still be without WRs Jarvis Landry and Michael Thomas, but they'll get at least partial reinforcements with the return of rookie phenom Chris Olave. He was cleared by the independent neurologist and has exited the concussion protocol. He'll join a group consisting of Marquez Callaway, Tre'Quan Smith, Rashid Shaheed and Keith Kirkwood. Kevin White could also be a candidate for a practice squad call-up.
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3. WATCH FOR THE RPO
The Cardinals are yet another team with a mobile quarterback. The Saints have struggled to defend in those situations in the past. Whether it be Jalen Hurts, Marcus Mariota, or even Joe Burrow, the QB run game has given them problems. Bo Brack tells us the Cardinals have been hesitant to break out the QB run game this season, but Murray had 100 yards rushing in Week 6, and it's likely they've also seen the book on the Saints' RPO struggles.
4. WHERE ARE THE INTERCEPTIONS?
As a man-to-man heavy team, the Saints have never been an interception-loaded defense. Dating back to 2018 the Saints haven't logged fewer than 12 in any given season. They'd need at least one in every game the rest of the season to hit that mark, with Tyrann Mathieu's pick of Kirk Cousins remaining the lone INT of the season. If this season is to turn around, the defensive backfield has to start making life more difficult on opposing quarterbacks. This might be the week to start that. Kyler Murray has already thrown four interceptions this season, including one in each of the past three weeks.
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5. WAIT, THESE GUYS AGAIN?
Should Andy Dalton start, it'll be the second consecutive week he's facing a team he's very familiar with. The Week 6 matchup marked the third consecutive season he went against the Bengals, despite playing for three different teams in the opposite conference. It's even more pronounced with the Cardinals, whom Dalton has faced in each of the past four seasons as the starting QB for the Bengals, Cowboys, Bears and now the Saints. The bad news? He's 0-3 in those matchups. But he had also been 2-0 against the Bengals prior to last week, so maybe this is another chance for a flipped script.
6. IT'S REAL GRASS
There will be no complaining about field turf causing injuries after this one. That's because, despite University of Phoenix Stadium being a domed field, they still play on natural grass. The field is wheeled out of the stadium and maintained, and is also used for practice. It's honestly just a fascinating thing ... and somewhere Sean Payton will be muttering about the right cleats.
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