Key Ingredients for Victory: Saints vs Eagles

If Dallas’ victory was indicative of how the New Orleans Saints (2-0) will respond after crushing Carolina the week before, then there’s no need to worry about whether they’ll be ready Sunday against the Eagles (1-1) at Caesars Superdome.

This doesn’t guarantee a win, but here are some things that might help in that regard:

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has had plenty of success in his last two starts, both wins, against the Saints (30 of 54 for 314 passing yards and a touchdown, 175 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries). Like all Eagles opponents, New Orleans prefers to have him in the pocket as a passer rather than involved in the running game as a designated runner or a scrambler to escape pressure. He’s dangerous when he breaks containment, and if he has success, running back Saquon Barkley will be doubly difficult to handle. If Hurts is scouted, the task could fall to linebacker Willie Gay, but it will be imperative for the defensive line to maintain its integrity if it hopes to surround Hurts.

Surrounding Hurts is one thing, crashing him is another. New Orleans has two defenders in Carl Granderson and Chase Young, and they’re going to lead the way in harassing Hurts in the pocket while he’s there. Two sacks combined don’t begin to quantify the impact they’ve had in the first two games; they’ll need to pressure again against Philly.

The Saints can’t keep up their offensive momentum, can they? Maybe they can, because if they keep running as well as they did in the first two games (185 yards and three touchdowns per game on 4.9 yards per carry), anything is possible. And the Eagles, who are allowing 157.5 yards per game, have been easy on the run in the first two games. Alvin Kamara (198 yards per rush and four touchdowns on 35 carries, and 92 yards per reception and a touchdown on seven receptions) is off to his best start in the NFL. New Orleans would like to see him continue that momentum, and Jamaal Williams provides the counterattack as a bruiser. If Taysom Hill (chest) can’t play, that will increase the workload on Kamara and Williams.