Numbers to Know: Saints fall short versus Washington

By Ross Jackson

Sunday’s matchup with the Washington Commanders was easily one the most exciting games in recent New Orleans Saints memory, despite it ending in a loss.

The 20-19 result was a two-point conversion catch away from going the Saints’ way after falling to a 17-point deficit. The team made a quarterback change from 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener to rookie fifth-round selection Spencer Rattler at the half. The pass rush came to life, and a wide receiver threw a touchdown. From clock malfunctions to two-minute drives, this game had everything.

Here are some of the numbers that help tell the story of a thrilling loss that left interim head coach Darren Rizzi proud of his Saints club.

0 – In three of his last four games, including Sunday’s bout with the Commanders, Saints rookie left tackle Taliese Fuaga did not surrender a single pressure.

4 – The Saints mirrored four first-half completions with four second-half scoring drives.

5.1 – Second-year running back Kendre Miller averaged 5.1 yards per carry against the Commanders. He averaged seven yards per carry on the final drive. 

8 – Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels took some punishment from the Saints pass rush. New Orleans totaled eight sacks in this matchup, the team’s most since 2020 when they sacked former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan eight times as well.

Lagniappe: The three times the Saints had at least eight sacks in a game were all against the Atlanta Falcons.

25 – Saints running back Alvin Kamara caught his 25th career touchdown reception on Sunday. That makes him the fourth player all-time with at least 50 rushing touchdowns and 25 receiving touchdowns in a career.

33.3 – Haener’s day would have looked a bit different were it not for a pair of dropped passes and a 15-yard completion taken off the board by a holding penalty. But such are the throes of the NFL. Two of the second-year passer’s six incomplete passes were dropped, good for 33.3%

61 – New Orleans used motion on 61% of its plays against Washington. Even with two young passers taking the reigns, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak stuck to the team’s offensive identity.

71.4 – Haener was under pressure for 71.4% of his dropbacks in the first half. That pressure rate sank to 31.8% in the second half.

80.6 – Daniels completed a whopping 80.6% of his passes against the Saints defense. Daniels currently ranks No. 4 in the NFL in completion percentage. 

83.3 – Excluding the spike to stop the clock, Rattler completed 83.3% of his passes in the final two-minute drive that almost won the game for New Orleans