Three matchups to watch: Saints at Dolphins

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins will square off at Noon CT on Sunday for their Week 13 tilt. The 2-9 Saints are 5.5-point underdogs at various sports books, while the 4-7 Dolphins are on a roll with two impressive wins before last week’s bye. 

Here are three matchups to watch as the Saints look to get back in the win column against a surging Miami team. 

Saints defensive front vs. Dolphins RB De’Von Achane

This leads the list because it is likely to be the most important element of the game. Achane has been in a tear, gaining 390 yards from scrimmage over his last two games. New Orleans has been inconsistent defending the ground game so far this year with a disappointing performance for every promising showing. 

Keeping a lid on Achane and forcing the Dolphins to be one-dimensional will be a key for the Saints as they look to get an upset win on the road. 

Forcing the Dolphins into more obvious passing situations would open up coordinator Brandon Staley’s defense, allowing for more subpackages and aggressive pressure techniques that could create a long day for Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Otherwise, the long day will belong to New Orleans. 

Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver vs. Saints HC Kellen Moore

Weaver’s disguise-heavy, aggressive defense is sure to challenge rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. It will be up to Moore, with or without wide receiver Chris Olave, to scheme and game plan appropriately in order to make the game more manageable for his rookie passer. 

Waver’s defense blitzes at the third-highest rate in the NFL this season (35.3%), per Next Gen Stats. Shough’s 35.7% completion rate against the blitz is the lowest in the NFL. Despite that, the rookie’s overall 68.1% completion rate is the best among the 2025 rookie class. 

Moore will need to put Shough in position to avoid pressure against the blitz and allow the quarterback the comfort to operate as well as he’s proven he can when kept clean. Getting starting right tackle Taliese Fuaga back this week will be a big step in the right direction  

The Red Zone Matchup

The Saints’ 34.5% red zone-touchdown ratio is one of the worst-performance offenses in the last decade inside the 20-yard-line. Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ 50% conversion rate allowed in the area has made the unit a top-five defense. 

This matchup could be the difference in this game, as it has been for several of the Saints’ matchups so far. Keeping Shough in the field and improved playcalling by Moore will be necessary in order to drive improvement in the red zone, an area where the Saints desperately need to get better.