The New Orleans Saints (0-2) will gear up for their first road game of the season when they travel to face the Seattle Seahawks (1-1).
The Black and Gold will search for their first win of the season after falling to the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers. New Orleans had an opportunity to either tie or win on the final drive in both of the previous games.
For the Seahawks, they are coming off a 31-17 road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Seattle’s defense forced quarterback Aaron Rodgers to throw two interceptions and scored 17 points as a team in the fourth quarter, leading to the 14-point victory.
Kickoff between the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks inside Lumen Field is scheduled for 3:05 PM on Sunday, September 21st.
LACK OF PRESSURE
There’s been a misleading statistic for the Saints. New Orleans is tied for the second-most sacks in the league with eight through two games. The other two teams are the Packers and the Rams. Cam Jordan and company sacked Kyler Murray five times in week one and Mac Jones three times last week.
Carl Granderson is tied for first in the NFL in the category with 3.5. The other two at the top of the league in sacks are Cleveland’s Myles Garrett and New England’s Harold Landry III. Even with the high sack total, the majority of the recorded sacks have come off good coverage by the linebackers and secondary. Murray and Jones, in those first two weeks, either had or bought extra time in the pocket to deliver passes on key third downs due to a lack of initial pressure.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has been sacked three times so far this season. Seattle has also nearly a 50/50 split between passes and runs. Darnold has thrown 56 times compared to the team having 55 carries.
FIRST ROAD GAME
Sunday will be a good, early-season measurement for this team. There were legit signs of life through the first two weeks at home. The Saints had multiple opportunities late to either tie or win the ball game in the closing minute, but came up just short.
This will be the first road game for Kellen Moore as a head coach. That leads to so many questions being asked. How does his coaching style change, if at all? How will this team treat the game if they take an early lead? What about if they go down? How will the timeouts be managed?
It’s one thing to attempt to overcome a deficit at home; it’s another to do it on the road. Seeing how this team responds to adversity on the road will tell a lot about them and will give fans a better idea of what to expect from this team this season.
KEY LOSSES
The Saints have to wait at least one more week before Chase Young makes his season debut after being listed as out in Friday’s practice report. This comes after Dillon Radunz was listed as out for Sunday’s contest, as he didn’t leave with the team to head to Seattle. Radunz was playing in place of Trevor Penning at left guard through the first two weeks.
Penning isn’t officially active for Sunday’s game, but was limited in all of this week’s practices and is officially questionable. There’s been less optimism for Saints right tackle Taliese Fuaga, who has been dealing with a back injury since last season and also sustained a knee injury in week one’s loss to Arizona.
The Seahawks also have some major injuries that can play a factor in this week’s matchup. Seattle has three secondary players, including two starters, who are listed as doubtful. The same can be said for running back Zach Charbonnet. That means Kenneth Walker will take the bulk of the carries whether Charbonnet dresses or not.
SERIES RECORD: Saints lead 10-8
Last 5 Meetings:
2022: SAINTS 39 – SEAHAWKS 32
2021: SAINTS 13 – SEAHAWKS 10
2019: SAINTS 33 – SEAHAWKS 27
2016: SAINTS 25 – SEAHAWKS 20
2014: SEAHAWKS 23 – SAINTS 15
STAT LEADERS:
Saints
Spencer Rattler: 52-80, 421 Yards, 3 TD
Alvin Kamara: 32 Carries, 144 Yards, 1 TD
Juwan Johnson: 13 Catches, 125 Yards, 1 TD
Carl Granderson: 3.5 Sacks
Demario Davis: 20 Tackles (11 Solo)
Blake Grupe: 2-of-4 Field Goals, Long of 36, 4-of-4 PAT
Seahawks
Sam Darnold: 38-56, 445 Yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Kenneth Walker: 23 Carries, 125 Yards, 1 TD
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 17 Catches, 227 Yards
Byron Murphy II: 1.5 Sacks
Ernest Jones IV: 18 Tackles (11 Solo)
Ernest Jones IV, Derion Kendrick, Coby Bryant & Josh Jobe: 1 INT
Jason Myers: 3-of-4 Field Goals, Long of 54, 5-of-5 PAT
INJURY REPORT:
Saints
Taliese Fuaga, T, Knee/Back, Questionable
Dillon Radunz, OL, Toe, Out
Chase Young, DE, Calf, Out
Trey Palmer, WR, Hamstring, Questionable
Trevor Penning, G/T, Toe, Questionable
DeVaughn Vele, WR, Hip, Questionable
Seahawks
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Foot, Doubtful
Nick Emmanwori, S, Ankle, Doubtful
Julian Love, S, Calf, Doubtful
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Knee, Doubtful
Derick Hall, LB, Hip
Tory Horton, WR, Groin
Josh Jobe, CB, Knee
Ernest Jones IV, LB, Shoulder
Abraham Lucas, T, Elbow