BrownsNew Orleans Saints: the NFC South after Week 1
The Saints erased a 21-point deficit at Detroit but lost 31-30 in overtime after a two-point conversion attempt failed. Tyler Shough and the offense put up 30 points on the road against a good Lions defense before the comeback fell just short.
New Orleans Saints0-1
How they play
Offense
Kellen Moore's offense, entering his second season in New Orleans, is built on balance, mixing man and zone runs with pre-snap motion and multiple tight end sets, now featuring a two-back attack after signing Travis Etienne Jr. to pair with Alvin Kamara.
Defense
Defensively, the Saints mix a productive pass rush led by Chase Young with a young, thin secondary that lost Alontae Taylor in free agency.
Strengths
- A pass rush led by Chase Young, who has 15.5 sacks in his last 29 games
- A strong safety pairing of Justin Reid and rookie Jonas Sanker
- A run defense that held up well in 2025 and limited Detroit's ground game in Week 1
Weaknesses
- A cornerback room thin after losing Alontae Taylor, with Kool-Aid McKinstry needing to bounce back
- An interior pass rush that still has not gotten consistent production from Bryan Bresee
- A running back competition between Kamara and Etienne that has not settled into a clear lead role
Key players
Entering year two as the Saints' unquestioned starter.
Opened the season with 182 receiving yards against Detroit.
New Orleans' most productive pass rusher.
Signed a four-year, $48 million deal to pair with Alvin Kamara.
Saints injury report
Injury watch
Alvin Kamara is working back from a sprained MCL suffered in an August joint practice with Dallas, with an original four to six week recovery timetable that puts his Week 2 or Week 3 availability in question. Travis Etienne Jr. has taken on a larger early-season workload in the meantime.
| Player | Pos | Status | Injury | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin Kamara | RB | Questionable | Knee - MCL | Sep 15 |
| Cameron Jordan | DE | Questionable | Hamstring | Sep 15 |
| Oscar Delp | TE | Questionable | Hamstring | Sep 15 |
| Audric Estime | RB | Injured Reserve | Thigh | Sep 12 |
| Dillon Radunz | G | Injured Reserve | Knee - ACL | Sep 8 |
| Lorenzo Styles Jr. | S | Injured Reserve | Calf | Sep 8 |
Saints vs Buccaneers in 2026
The Bucs angle
New Orleans visits Raymond James Stadium in Week 15 on December 20, then hosts the Buccaneers' regular season finale at the Caesars Superdome in Week 18. Alvin Kamara's health will shape how much the Saints can lean on the run in both meetings.