Three matchups to watch: Saints vs. 49ers

By Ross Jackson

Week 2 of the NFL season presents a golden opportunity for the New Orleans Saints to get their first win of the season. The San Francisco 49ers head to the Big Easy without their starting quarterback, tight end and top wide receiver while also managing an important injury along the offensive line. 

However, regardless of how many injuries there may be, this game still comes down to healthy playmakers. Here are three matchups aside from those impacted by injuries that could dictate the result of this game. 

Saints’ tackles vs. Nick Bosa

Last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Bosa took 26 snaps off of the right edge and 17 from the defensive left. That means both tackles, rookie left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and second year right tackle  Taliese Fuaga (if healthy), will both be tasked with limiting Bosa. This won’t be an easy task. The 2019 first-rounder totaled three pressures in Week 1 including one sack. 

Fuaga, who managed a knee injury for a portion of last week’s game until sitting out in the second half, allowed four pressures including the team’s lone sack. It’s clear that the knee injury he was wrestling with interfered with his usual high level of play. Meanwhile Banks let up a pair of pressures himself, but mostly played well. 

Keeping quarterback Spencer Rattler clear will be a primary task throughout this game. The matchup between the two bookends and Bosa may be the most important to achieving or failing in that task. 

Kyle Shanahan vs. Brandon Staley

Going to the sidelines may be a bit of a cheat when discussing matchups, but this is a major one. Staley and Shanahan worked together on the same team last year when Staley was the assistant head coach of the 49ers. Many believe that this could set him up with some valuable insight to limiting San Francisco’s already injury-weakened attack. 

The chess match between these two should be a lot of fun. Beyond the entertainment value, their sparring could end up being the difference in this contest. 

Saints Slot Receivers vs. Upton Stout

This is a matchup head coach Kellen Moore and the Saints’ offense will have to exploit. Stout is a very talented young player, but as a rookie, New Orleans has a chance to send some experienced and crafty players his way. 

Last week, tight end Juwan Johnson and wide receivers Chris Olave and Brandin Cooks each saw more than 15 snaps in the slot. Cooks, in particular, could be an intriguing matchup of experienced veterans versus growing rookie.