Considering the opponent, venue, weather conditions and available personnel (or lack thereof), the New Orleans Saints (3-10) posted their best win of the season last week against Tampa Bay.
If the team is going to manufacture its first two-game winning streak of the season, it will need to replicate some of the successes from last week on Sunday in the Caesars Superdome against NFC South Division-leading Carolina (7-6), which New Orleans defeated on Nov. 9 in Charlotte, N.C.
Here are some of the points the Saints need to stick:
1. RUN IT BACK
New Orleans got gritty and grimy on offense with 139 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries against the Buccaneers. Rookies led the way — running back Devin Neal totaled 70 yards and a score on 19 carries, quarterback Tyler Shough added 55 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries — and with Carolina allowing 119 rushing yards per game overall and 141 in the last three, there's reason for optimism if you're the Saints. They don't need to make a living exposing Shough on designed runs, but this isn't the time to be picky: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
2. MAKE MOBILITY MAGIC
Speaking of Shough, in the first Carolina game (his second start) he completed 19 of 27 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, and receiver Chris Olave caught five of those passes for 104 yards and a score. Olave — who leads the team in receptions (76), receiving yards (811) and receiving and total touchdowns (five) — would love to see some of the one-on-one matchups he saw in the first meeting. Credit the offensive line then and last week. The unit of left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., left guard Dillon Radunz, center Luke Fortner, right guard Cesar Ruiz and right tackle Asim Richards (or Taliese Fuaga, if he returns from injury) has learned on the fly. Shough's mobility has been an asset.
3. REPEAT THE FORMULA
If you haven't been paying close attention, you wouldn't know opponents have averaged 18 points against the Saints in the last four games, with New Orleans winning two of them. There's been the usual excellence from linebacker Demario Davis, expected playmaking from edge rushers Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson and Chase Young, and some critical play in the secondary by cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor. The Saints held Carolina to 175 yards and seven points in the first meeting, when they sacked Panthers quarterback Bryce Young twice and intercepted him once. In the three games since — two of them wins — Young has thrown for 823 yards and seven touchdowns, with two interceptions. He only has 2,337 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. New Orleans has to disrupt his timing and comfort level again, something that was accomplished last week against Tampa Bay.
4. FORCE IT TO YOUNG
New Orleans also did a great job shutting down Carolina's run game (23 carries for 73 yards) the first time. Rico Dowdle is dangerous, though he has gained just 194 rushing yards in the last four games (53 against New Orleans). Minimize his threat, and put the game in Young's hands.
5. SPARK ON RETURNS
A field-position changing return always helps, and Mason Tipton has had 75- and 54-yard kickoff returns in the last three games. If he can tilt the field once on Sunday, it could be the difference in a tight game.
