The New Orleans Saints head into a home match versus the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday with a 2-0 record. If you asked me or practically anybody else if they believed that would hold true, they ‘d most likely have actually informed you no, however here we are.
The emphasize of the very first 2 weeks has actually been the Saints offense, and truly so due to the fact that they’re balancing 45.5 points per video game over the very first 2 weeks, which is initially in the league, however their defense has actually silently been really excellent. Through 2 video games, among which protested an excellent Dallas offense, the Saints are giving up 14.5 points per video game, which is 4th in the league. The factor no one is discussing the Saints defense is since this is what we’ve pertained to anticipate over the last couple of years, however they definitely still deserve their flowers.
Today the Saints deal with the Eagles, who are led by among the greatest paid quarterbacks in the league, Jalen Hurts. Through 2 video games, Hurts has actually finished 67.2% of his passes for 471 lawns and 3 goals, however he’s connected for the 2nd most interceptions tossed with 3.
On the other hand, the Saints defense has actually been quite strong versus the pass, holding challengers to 210 lawns per video game, which in practically any other year would be leading 15 to leading 10, however this year with the passing numbers down, it has them ranked 20th.
The Eagles will likely lack their leading receiver, AJ Brown, who had 119 lawns and a goal in week one. Devonta Smith will step up in his location – he has 14 catches for 160 lawns and one goal this year. Behind him however, the Eagles’ getting core is really thin. Beyond Brown and Smith, the next leading pass receiver on the group is Britain Covey, who has 6 catches for 23 lawns. Without Brown in week 2, Hurts tossed for simply 183 backyards and one goal versus the Falcons.
The Saints protective backs need to have a field day in protection on Sunday, specifically if Marshon Lattimore is back. If Lattimore plays, he’ll likely follow Smith around when in guy protection, leaving Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry to get the remainder of the Eagles receivers.
On the ground, the Eagles are a lot more effective than through the air. They’ve hurried for 330 backyards behind a 4.4 average through 2 weeks, which ranks them ninth in the league in backyards per video game and 18th in average. Saquon Barkley is their primary risk, however I’m a bit more worried about Jalen Hurts. The Saints appear to constantly get torched by hurrying quarterbacks, so that could, and most likely will, be a concern when again today.
The Saints defense presently ranks 3rd in the league in challengers hurrying lawns per video game permitted (67 ), however that’s in part due to them being up by a lot in their very first 2 video games.