Ups and downs from Saints vs. Eagles

The New Orleans Saints lost a dogfight with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in a 15-12 loss. Despite having a lead for the majority of the matchup, not much went the Saints’ way, and lots of problems became more evident.

Up: Chris Olave
Wide receiver Chris Olave was the bright spot of a dull Saints’ offense on Sunday. Olave brought in 6 receptions for 86 yards and the team’s lone touchdown. The third-year receiver had a rough start to the season as fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed shined in the first two weeks, but when the game began to get gritty and tough quarterback Derek Carr looked for his WR1 to make plays and he was present to make them. Olave is entering a possible contract year and has expressed the desire to make a jump from a good player to an elite player. On Sunday he showed he is a reliable playmaker to look for when no one else is present to make plays.

Down: Injuries
The Saints entered week three aware they would be without Swiss army knife Taysom Hill. What New Orleans wasn’t prepared for was the loss of Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy just three snaps in. McCoy has been the highest-graded player on the Saints through two weeks and his absence was immediately felt. Later in the matchup right guard Cesar Ruiz would leave but later returned. The Saints were already dealing with injury problems as 12 players appeared on Friday’s final injury report. The addition of two starting interior linemen adds to the team’s long list.

Down: Running game
As the Saints’ offense dominated the first two weeks there was one constant, they ran the ball a lot and effectively. Against the Eagles, New Orleans wasn’t able to get a consistent running game going and completely neutralized Klint Kubiak’s playcalling. Kubiak’s system relies on an effective running game to take advantage of play action.

Running back Alvin Kamara carried the ball 26 times on the Day for 87 yards averaging 3.3 yards a carry. Taysom Hill has been a usual constant in the ground game but in his absence, the Saints only had one attempt outside of Kamara on a Jamaal Williams -1 yard loss. If the Saints are looking to get back on track offensively the first area to work on is redeveloping a running game that works with the possible absence of Erik McCoy and Taysom Hill.

Down: Run defense
The Saints’ run defense looked how they have all year during the first half holding superstar running back Saquon Barkley to under four yards a carry. It wasn’t until the New Orleans offense struggled to stay on the field forcing a tired defense to face the Eagles’ vicious running game. Barkley would finish the day running for 147 yards on 17 attempts earning two touchdowns on 8.6 yards a carry.

The Saints are heading to Atlanta for a week four matchup that features another premier running back in Bijan Robinson. The New Orleans rush defense will have to perform better on earlier downs and not allow the opponent to control the ball and clock.

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