The New Orleans Saints still are chasing a put-it-all-together game, with all three phases carrying their weight, in hope of securing their first victory of 2025.
Sunday's game against the Giants (1-3) in the Caesars Superdome may be a golden opportunity for New Orleans (0-4). But nothing so far has been easy, and this game doesn't figure to be, either. How best can the Saints help themselves?
1. LONG DISTANCE CALLS
The Saints need chunk plays in the worst way. It's difficult to consistently post 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drives; long drives provide more opportunities to be sabotaged by a penalty, drop, missed throw or missed block. A big play — several big plays — are needed by a team that has had precious few of them. Receiver Rashid Shaheed has a 39-yard catch, tight end Juwan Johnson has two 21-yard catches and receiver Brandin Cooks has a 20-yarder; those are the four 20-plus yard plays from scrimmage for the Saints this season. Of course, quarterback Spencer Rattler needs protection and receivers need time for routes to develop, but since it's October we'll use a baseball parallel — small-ball is nice but homers make life easier. New York allows the second-most passing yards in the league (235.5 per game), so a few "shot" plays could be on deck.
2. RUN IT BACK
Having said that, the chance for balance appears to be good, too, because the Giants also struggle against the run. New York allows 153 rushing yards per game, third-most in the league. New Orleans is coming off a 189-yard rushing game against Buffalo, where running backs Alvin Kamara (15 carries for 70 yards) and Kendre Miller (11 for 65) and Rattler (six for 49) combined to average 5.8 yards per carry. A solid run game slows down the opposing pass rush.
3. BE SPECIAL (OR, AT LEAST, AVERAGE)
New Orleans' collective special team units arguably have been the worst-performing units on the team this season. Three missed field goals, a 95-yard punt return allowed, a punt blocked, a 60-yard kickoff return allowed and a roughing the kicker penalty are enough lows to cover an entire season. For all that to have occurred in four games is remarkable in the most non-complimentary way. Blake Grupe made field goals of 54 and 35 yards against Buffalo last Sunday, so maybe that operation has corrected. The other special team parts need to get there, all in the same game. A big return can help the offense and great coverage can benefit the defense. But even if nothing spectacular happens for the positive, don't do anything negative that undercuts.
4. BULLSEYE ON DARTS
The Giants won their first game with rookie Jaxson Darts starting at quarterback last week. Darts' inexperience solely won't guarantee success for the Saints' defense; he's mobile, mobile quarterbacks give NFL teams trouble and the Saints are an NFL team. But if New Orleans can confuse Darts and create indecision, the pass rush has a better chance to get home and edge rusher Carl Granderson (team-leading 4.5 sacks) will have a chance to add to his sack total. Dart won't have New York's best receiver, Malik Nabors, to help him (Nabors is out with a torn ACL). The Saints have to take advantage of the absence.
5. WIN THE CROWD
As Proximo to Maximus, the Saints have to do something to win the crowd and keep it. There was a decided 49ers flavor in the Superdome for the last home game but in order for that to not become a trend, New Orleans must find a way to rekindle the home fire. Nothing achieves that better than positive plays.
