Numbers to Know: Saints smoke Browns

By Ross Jackson

The 35-14 scoreboard may be the most important highlight of the New Orleans Saints victory over the Cleveland Browns. But there are some other telling numbers behind a convincing and resilient win by New Orleans. This week’s ‘Numbers to Know’ begins with a coach making good on his early audition for the Saints’ open head coaching role. 

2 – Saints Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi became only the second Saints coach to begin his head coaching career 2-0. The only other coach to do so in the franchise’s history was Sean Payton in 2006.

5 – For a second straight week, Saints quarterback Derek Carr was outstanding against the blitz. He completed all five of his passing attempts versus the Browns blitz for 117 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns.

8 – Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett compiled an 8% pressure rate against the Saints’ offensive protection. That was his lowest of the season, per Next Gen Stats. His previous low was 11.1% in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Garrett’s two pressures were also a season-low.

20 – Time to show some love to special teams. While Cleveland did recover a fumble that started a drive deep in Browns territory, the New Orleans special teams unit dominated starting field position. The Browns’ average drive start was at their own 20-yard line. Seven of their 11 drives began at worse than their own 30. Not a single drive started better than their own 30.

33.5 – Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is averaging a whopping 33.5 receiving yards per catch so far this season. His 201 receiving yards over three games have already surpassed the individual totals of wideouts Cedrick Wilson Jr., Mason Tipton and Bub Means, who have all appeared in at least seven contests and each have at least six more targets than Valdes-Scantling.

77.8 – Carr completed 77.8% of his passes against the Browns’ defense. That ties his second-highest completion percentage mark of the 2024 season. His best mark was 82.6% against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1.

126 – Per Next Gen Stats, do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill’s 126 rushing yards from wildcat formation are the most in the Next gen era (2016). His three rushing touchdowns are also the most in that time.

214 – The Saints piled on 214 rushing yards against the Browns, their most in a single game so far this season. New Orleans has now rushed for 180 or more yards in four games this season, holding a 3-1 record in those contests.

238 – Saints running back Alvin Kamara’s 238 touches lead the NFL.

1971 – Per ESPN Research, shared by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, Hill became the first player with three rushing touchdowns, 50 receiving yards and 1 pass completion since Ed Podolak in 1971.