Both the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders are off to faster starts than many anticipated. Part of the Raiders’ quick start has been their defense, which has been effective in keeping points off the board and limiting passing games.
For the Saints, the passing game has been their best weapon on offense, showing an effectiveness especially in the second half to move the ball well through the air.
While this may appear to be a strength-on-strength matchup going into Sunday’s game, the Saints could have one key advantage: the deep ball.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough leads the league in downfield (20-plus yards) completion percentage (75%) for any quarterback with more than five deep passing attempts. His adjusted completion percentage, which takes into account drops, throwaways and other non-quarterback-related incompletions, also ranks No. 1 in the league (87.5%).
On the other hand, Las Vegas has faced the league’s sixth-fewest passing attempts through two games, but are tied for the No. 5 most deep passes faced with nine. On those targets, the Raiders defense has allowed just one catch for 25 receiving yards.
The advantage for New Orleans is two-fold. Neither of the Raiders’ quarterback opponents have been effective downfield at all this season. Miami Dolphins passer Malik Willis has completed only three of his six attempts more than 20 yards downfield, while Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been one of the league’s most inefficient deep passers completing just one of his four attempts through the first two games.
The first advantage for the Saints in this area is simply their quarterback. Shough is a much more accurate, and efficient, downfield passer than the Raiders’ previous two opponents.
But Las Vegas has been a very good defense on their own, regardless of its opposition. Their pass rush is tied atop the league for most sacks ranks T-No. 2 in interceptions.
However, the Saints’ second edge may come from the Raiders’ injury report.
Safety Treydan Stukes has been an excellent and impactful rookie starter for the defense. He already has his first career interception and while spending most of time playing as the deep safety in the Raiders’ defense, he’s allowed only one catch of 20 or more yards.
Stukes is currently navigating concussion protocol.
His replacement, should he not be available to take on the Saints, will be Isaiah Pola-Mao. The fifth-year safety was the victim as the nearest defender on the Raiders’ longest reception surrendered of the season so far of 53 receiving yards.
If Stukes isn’t available, the Saints may find even more opportunities to win over the top with Shough, wide receiver Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson.
The key to doing so will be allowing Shough time to find the deeper developing routes by keeping him clean in the pocket against the Raiders’ effective four-man rush.
