Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Even before taking the field on Sunday, the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks matchup has drawn a lot of intrigue. Both teams are similar in comparison and have also been dealing with an impactful list of injuries.
Now that some clarity is settled following Friday’s injury report, here are some of the matchups that will shape Sunday afternoon’s game.
1. Saints’ interior offensive line vs. Seahawks’ interior defensive line
This game will start and end with the trenches one way or another. While the Saints’ tackles have given up the vast majority of pressure so far this season, it’s the team’s guard and center that will see the biggest challenge on Sunday in Seattle.
Defensive tackles Leonard Williams, Jaran Reed and Byron Murphy II are all key contributors to the Seahawks’ pass rush that is very effective at getting pressure without blitzing. The trio has combined for 18 of the teams 39 pressures charted by Pro Football focus and are responsible for three of the team’s four sacks through two games.
Saints’ guard Trevor Penning is questionable and could be starting his first career game at left guard. Meanwhile center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz will have to hold up against an active and aggressive interior rush.
If Penning is not good to go by game time, the Saints would then likely turn to rookie interior offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins III. Simpkins showed promise during the preseason, earning praise from head coach Kellen Moore about his play style and physicality.
2. RB Alvin Kamara, TE Juwan Johnson vs. injured Seattle safety room
Seahawks’ safeties Julian Love and Nick Emmanwori are both physical and disruptive chess-piece types for head coach Mike MacDonald’s defense. However, both are doubtful.
If they each aren’t able to go on Sunday, the Saints could have a major advantage attacking the middle of the field. Johnson, the Saints’ leading receiver, is likely to be a big part of the gameplan again this week. Whether taking snaps in-line, in the slot, outside or in one of head coach Kellen Moore’s early-season wrinkles, out of the backfield, the tight end is expected to see a lot of attention from young quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Kamara has seen a lot of success in his three career games against the Seahawks.
- Three wins
- Three 90-plus receiving yard games
- Three 50-plus rushing yard games
- Three scrimmage touchdowns
If Kamara can keep up his receiving production in particular, it would position him better in that area than what his usage has called for early this season. The back saw just two targets in the Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and six last week. So far he has just 33 receiving yards, 4.1 per reception. That average is more that two yards less than his previous career-low of 6.2 from 2023. This could be a great matchup to help get the connection between Rattler and Kamara going.
3. New Orleans pass rushers vs. QB Sam Darnold
Darnold isn’t the same guy that once saw ghosts as a member of the New York Jets, but he’s still able to be rattled. His 57.1 percent completion rate and 72.3 passer ratings under pressure are both considerably lower than his numbers when kept clean (74.3 percent and 98.6 respectively).
Getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks has not been the Saints’ strong suit as the team ranks close to last in pressure percentage despite being tied for No. 2 in the league in sacks through the first two weeks with eight.
If New Orleans struggles to get pressure at a more consistent rate, Darnold will have the time he needs to target one of the NFL’s most productive receivers in the early season in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
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