The New Orleans Saints are in search of their first win of the 2026 season. Will they find it in their showdown with an explosive Ravens squad that's battling injuries?
It'll likely depend on whether the Saints get the first- or second-half version of the team we saw on the field against the Lions, and whether the team can contain Baltimore's star offensive duo.
With all that in mind, scroll below for the top three things we're watching for in Week 2.
THE GAME | Saints (0-1) at Ravens (1-0)
- When: noon, Sunday, Sept. 20
- Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Series history: Ravens lead 6-2
- Last meeting: 2022, Ravens 27, Saints 13
- Betting: Ravens -8.5; o/u 45.5
- TV: CBS
- Listen: WWL AM-870; FM-105.3 & the Audacy app
- Pregame: First Take with Steve Geller & Mario Jerez, 8 to 10 a.m.; Countdown to Kickoff with Steve Geller & Bobby Hebert, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
START FAST?
It’s the conversation that simply refuses to end: Why, oh why can’t the Saints get off to faster starts in games?
The Saints' opponent scored first in 15 of their 17 games last season, and in several they found themselves in a two-touchdown hole before all the fans even found their seats. In total they only scored 29 first quarter points all season, the lowest total in the league by a healthy margin.
That’s why when you see the Saints offense come out in 2026 and get shut out in the first half of their opener, alarm bells start to go off. How is this still an issue? I think this the week where we really find out whether that’s the case.
Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough say it’s an execution issue, and I’d tend to agree. The Saints had plays set up to succeed early against the Lions. They were undone by mistakes. It didn’t look to be a scheme issue.
If that’s the case it’s fair to wonder whether the Week 1 struggles can be attributed to rust and a hostile environment. Shough pointed to communication breakdowns with the OL protection, issues that were ironed out in the second half. It won’t exactly be a friendly environment at M&T Bank Stadium. There’s also rain in the forecast.
The Saints need to use that hot, effective second half in Detroit as a springboard. Run the ball effectively. Run the offense. Good things should happen. If that’s the case, slow start questions will start to clear.
The Ravens aren’t the type of team you can afford to fall into a deep hole against.
2. CAN YOU SLOW DOWN LAMAR/HENRY
The Ravens will be without their biggest weapon in the passing game (Zay Flowers), but somehow that makes me even more concerned about the QB/RB tandem. That duo combined to account for 508 yards and four touchdowns last week.
Sometimes it feels like the only way to stop Lamar is to make him a passer and hope he misses. The numbers would tell you that’s not a particularly effective plan, either, but the alternative — turning Lamar Jackson loose as a runner — is worse. So how do the Saints handle it?
For one thing it’s a matchup that will highlight exactly where the Saints are as tacklers. Last week Jahmyr Gibbs broke 12 tackles, per Pro Football Reference, as he went off for 186 yards. Henry was credited with 13 as he put up 163. Gibbs and Henry are two very different players, but for the Saints to have a chance they’ll have to rally to the ball and gang tackle. Veteran DT Davon Godchaux has been facing Henry since they were both in college (LSU vs Alabama) and he said the key is the first player has to go low. Just like chopping a tree, start at the bottom. He can’t go anywhere without his feet — and if that doesn’t get him down, hold him up and hope others can arrive to help finish the job.
The Ravens averaged an absurd 4.37 yards before contact on their runs against the Colts. That was the highest mark in the league. The Saints have to do much better than that.
What Saints DC Brandon Staley noted as well is that it’s not just about keeping Lamar in the pocket, it’s also about taking away the air in the pocket. Getting some push on the interior will be essential, as will contain on the edges.
That’s really the only plan against this type of dynamic QB/RB tandem. Play your keys. Keep them in front of you. Survive long enough to give the offense a shot.
One last thing to keep in mind: New Ravens OC Declan Doyle (who spent multiple seasons as an assistant with the Saints) has Lamar working under center much more this year. That means a few things, one being that hard play action fakes are back on the table. The Saints defense will have to stay at home on those play fakes … which sounds impossible considering the two guys in the mix.
Let’s see what happens.
3. NEW SNAPPER
The average NFL fan might even be able to tell you the name of their favorite team’s long snapper. But that’s where the ball starts on every punt, field goal and extra point. It’s the job every team would gladly not spend much time thinking about, because it means the guy in that role is getting the job done.
For the past decade in New Orleans the player in that role has been Zach Wood. He was signed just a few weeks before the start of the 2017 regular season. Since that day, 150 games, 150 starts. His name could be written in ink on the roster prior to the start of training camp.
Well, for at least the next month the Saints will have to find another answer in that job. Wood has a calf strain and has been placed on IR. The Saints opted to sign veteran Scott Daly after a tryout on Thursday. He’s technically on the practice squad but was elevated for the game.
Daly told me he was at his home in San Diego when he got the call Wednesday evening. He hopped on a red eye flight and was snapping in New Orleans less than 24 hours later.
What probably worked in Daly’s favor is the experience. He’s appeared in 76 games split between the Lions and Bears over the past five years, as well as a pair of playoff games in 2025. He won’t be rattled by the atmosphere. He told me if all goes to plan, most Saints fans won’t even realize Zach Wood is out. That’s the life of a long snapper.
Hopefully that’s the case. But it’s still worth keeping an eye on special teams. If Daniel Carlson or Ryan Wright seem to be battling any snaps, we’ll likely know why.
LAGNIAPPE
Alvin Kamara (knee) and Cam Jordan (hamstring) are expected to make their season debuts. Both participated in all three practices this past week and were full participants on Friday. ... Chase Young (calf) and Chris Olave (hamstring) landed on the injury report on Thursday. They’re listed as questionable for the game, but I’d expect both to play. Will they be limited or slowed at all? If so, this could be a long day. … The Saints signed RB CJ Donaldson to the active roster and elevated WR Kevin Austin Jr. for the second consecutive week. CJ has impressed in pass pro and has a short-yardage skillset that the Saints utilized well last week. With Kamara returning to work in a tandem with Travis Etienne, don’t be surprised if Kendre Miller ends up as a healthy scratch. … I’d say the same for rookie TE Oscar Delp. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice and has no game designation, but he missed a ton of time in camp and I wouldn’t be surprised if the team opts to give him a bit more runway before the NFL debut. If he is active, don’t expect a significant role.
