The New Orleans Saints are off to a hot start. Through the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL, the Black and Gold have scored 91 points, the most in a two-game span to begin a season for the franchise since 2009’s Super Bowl team when they scored 93.
This Sunday New Orleans will host the Philadelphia Eagles, who are coming off a 22-21 loss on Monday Night Football to the Atlanta Falcons.
Kickoff inside the Caesras Superdome is set for noon on Sunday, September 22nd.
FOCUS ON THE RUN
Both of these teams are built to run the football.
Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s system is predicated on running the ball and getting his playmakers in space. Alvin Kamara has been the main beneficiary of the system with a 5.7 yards per carry average and five total touchdowns through two games—even Jamaal Williams, who had just a 2.9 yards per carry average last season (career low) has shown significant improvement, averaging over four yards per carry and recording the same amount of touchdowns as last season with one.
Philly a couple of years ago had one of the league’s best defensive lines, consistently getting into the backfield to disrupt the run and passing game. The Eagle defense has struggled to stop the run through two games, allowing 157.5 yards per game and ranking 25th in that category. The Saints are averaging 185.5 rushing yards per contest to this point.
HISTORY OF MOBILE QUARTERBACKS
It’s no secret the Saints have struggled the last few years to stop opposing quarterbacks from running the ball.
Jalen Hurts has been one of the players who have given the Black and Gold trouble, going back to his 2021 rookie season. Hurts displays his ability to run on a game-by-game basis, including last week against the Atlanta Falcons when he rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
To combat this weakness, the Saints signed former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. over the offseason. Gay hasn’t seen much of the field or had much of an impact through two games but could be a pivotal piece to victory for New Orleans on Sunday.
CRUCIAL INJURIES
There’s no shortage of injuries from the Saints’ side as 12 players landed on the injury report. Defensive tackle Khalen Saunders will miss Sunday’s contest but plenty of other players are listed as questionable. A couple of those players are Marshon Lattimore, who missed last week with a bad hamstring but could’ve played if needed. Taysom Hill’s availability is in question after being limited in practice due to a chest injury that sent him to the hospital in last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Philly on the other hand doesn’t have as many injuries as New Orleans, but theirs could be more significant. Eagles star receiver AJ Brown didn’t practice all week and will miss his second straight game due to a hamstring injury. Hurts will have to battle against a strong Saints secondary with his only other go-to outside threat being DeVonta Smith.
SERIES RECORD: Eagles lead 19-16
Last 5 Meetings:
2023: SAINTS 20 – EAGLES 10
2021: EAGLES 40 – SAINTS 29
2020: EAGLES 24 – SAINTS 21
2019: SAINTS 20 – EAGLES 14
2018: SAINTS 48 – EAGLES 7
STAT LEADERS
SAINTS
Derek Carr: 30-of-39, 443 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
Alvin Kamara: 35 carries, 198 yards, 4 TD
Rashid Shaheed: 7 catches, 169 yards, 2 TD
Alontae Taylor: 3 sacks
Alontae Taylor: 15 tackles (13 solo)
Will Harris, Tyrann Mathieu, Paulson Adebo, Jordan Howden: 1 INT
Blake Grupe: 5-of-5 Field Goals, Long of 57, 10-of-11 PAT
EAGLES
Jalen Hurts: 43-of-64, 461 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
Saquon Barkley: 46 carries, 208 yards, 2 TD
DeVonta Smith: 14 catches, 160 yards, 1 TD
Zack Baun: 2 sacks
Zack Baun: 24 tackles (18 solo)
Reed Blankenship: 1 INT
Jake Elliott: 4-of-4 Field Goals, Long of 38, 5-of-5 PAT
NOTABLE INJURIES
Saints
Marshon Lattimore, CB, Hamstring, Questionable
Jaylan Ford, LB, Hamstring, Probable
Rashid Shaheed, WR, Hip, Probable
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Back, Questionable
Tyrann Mathieu, S, Heel, Questionable
Cedrick Wilson, WR, Abdomen, Questionable
D’Marco Jackson, LB, Calf, Questionable
Khalen Saunders, DT, Calf, Out
Taysom Hill, TE, Chest, Questionable
Landon Young, OT, Foot, Questionable
Will Harris, S, Shin, Questionable
A.T. Perry, WR, Illness, Questionable
Eagles
AJ Brown, WR, Hamstring, Out
CJ Gardner-Johnson, S, Foot, Questionable
Johnny Wilson, WR, Hamstring, Questionable