New England Patriots
The Saints’ offensive expertise is subpar, however their defensive entrance may current the Patriots with some issues.
After an exhilarating upset win over the Payments in Week 5, the Patriots’ motivation may be examined in Week 6.
The Patriots journey right down to New Orleans to tackle a Saints staff that’s been one of many worst within the league by the primary 5 weeks of the season. The Saints have been in a position to choose up their first win of the season final week, although, taking down the Giants.
Because the Patriots look to maneuver to 4-2, listed below are 5 issues to know in regards to the Saints getting into Sunday’s recreation.
Spencer Rattler almost made NFL historical past in a foul manner, however he’s been higher than his report suggests.
Rattler, who the Saints took within the fifth spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft, was solely three losses away from having the second-most quantity of losses earlier than their first win as a beginning quarterback in NFL historical past. He wound up ending 5 shy of DeShone Kizer’s report (15), dropping his first 10 begins earlier than main the Saints to a victory over the Giants in Week 5.
As Rattler has gone 1-10 in his profession as a starter, his numbers may be than what you’d anticipate. This season, Rattler’s accomplished 67 % of his passes for 990 yards, six touchdowns, and an interception to go along with a 90.4 passer ranking and 123 speeding yards. He’s actually solely had one unhealthy recreation, which was in opposition to the Cardinals in Week 1.
However Rattler hasn’t actually been one to air it out to this point this season. His common supposed air yards (7.1) and common accomplished air yards (4.7) are each the eighth-worst amongst quarterbacks who’ve thrown not less than 45 passes this season.
Right here’s a enjoyable truth: Sunday received’t mark the primary time that Drake Maye and Rattler have gone head-to-head. The 2 quarterbacks confronted off of their ultimate faculty season, with Maye main UNC to a 31-17 victory over Rattler’s South Carolina squad. Rattler truly had the higher numbers that day with 353 passing yards to Maye’s 269 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
There’s one other operating again rising in New Orleans.
For the final eight seasons, Alvin Kamara was among the finest operating backs within the NFL as he did all of it for New Orleans out of the backfield. However because the 30-year-old has gotten off to an unspectacular begin (283 speeding yards, 3.9 yards per carry), there may be a brand new Saints operating again for followers to get to know.
Third-year again Kendre Miller has had a little bit of a breakout over the past couple of weeks, speeding for 106 yards on over 5 yards per carry. He’s additionally been among the finest operating backs within the league at breaking out of tackles, speeding for 3.89 yards after contact per carry (seventh-best amongst operating backs with not less than 20 carries this season).
Miller, a 2023 third-round choose, had been a third-string operating again for New Orleans over the past couple of seasons. Nonetheless, with Kamara questionable as a result of an ankle harm for Sunday’s recreation, Miller appears in line to get extra touches in Week 6 and past.
Trying exterior of the backfield, the remainder of the Saints’ offense is nothing to jot down residence about. Chris Olave, a 2022 first-round choose, has been OK this season after concussions ended his 2024 marketing campaign early, recording 33 receptions for 244 yards and a landing by the primary 5 video games. Rashid Shaheed has big-play potential, however he might be fairly growth or bust. Earlier than his 114-yard day in opposition to the Giants in Week 5, Shaheed didn’t report a 60-yard efficiency in his earlier six video games.
Juwan Johnson may be one of many higher tight ends within the league, however he’s probably not shredding defenses aside. He has 24 receptions for 21 yards and a landing this season.
Lastly, the Saints’ offensive line has been one of many worst within the league so far. In Ben Baldwin’s offensive line composite rankings, the Saints rank twenty seventh in cross safety and are the second-worst staff at run blocking.
The Saints have additionally given up 74 pressures by the primary 5 video games (14.8 per recreation). For comparability, the Patriots’ offensive line has given up 9.6 pressures per recreation.
New Orleans’ entrance seven has some promise.
Whereas the Saints are unhealthy within the trenches offensively, they’re a bit higher on the defensive aspect of the ball. Defensive finish Carl Granderson is tied for seventh in sacks (4.5), whereas defensive deal with Bryan Bresee ranks nineteenth amongst inside defensive linemen in cross rush win price. He additionally has a sack and a pressured fumble this 12 months.
However probably the Saints’ finest defensive lineman hasn’t performed but this season. Chase Younger, who’ll make his season debut on Sunday, has recorded 13 sacks over the past two seasons. His 66 pressures have been the seventh-most within the league final 12 months, per Professional Soccer Focus. He recorded the identical variety of pressures in 2023, when he cut up time with the Commanders and 49ers.
On high of that, the Saints arguably have one of many recreation’s finest linebackers in Demario Davis. The 14-year veteran and five-time All-Professional has recorded not less than 10 mixed tackles in every of the final eight years and already has 48 mixed tackles this season, rating sixth within the league.
The Saints are led by a first-year head coach, whom Mike Vrabel hasn’t finished nicely in opposition to in his profession.
When Kellen Moore left his submit because the Eagles’ offensive coordinator to change into the Saints’ head coach in February, he possible knew that there was a protracted rebuild forward. So, it shouldn’t be a shock that he’s 1-4 to begin his head teaching profession.
What may be a bit shocking, although, is Vrabel’s report in opposition to first-year coaches. The Patriots’ head coach went 7-11 in opposition to rookie head coaches (together with video games in opposition to first-time interim coaches) throughout his six-year tenure because the Titans head coach. 4 of these losses got here to the likes of Andrew Luck and C.J. Stroud, although, as he had a quarterback drawback in a number of of these matchups.
Join Patriots updates🏈
Get breaking information and evaluation delivered to your inbox throughout soccer season.
