The New Orleans Saints opened up the 2024-2025 PML Season with a dominating 37-3 win against the division rival Panthers in Carolina. Such a performance was a shock as the Saints were the heavy favorites but no one saw that coming, especially on the road. Who did head coach and GM JC say deserves the credit for this? He said everyone as the offseason was spent carefully putting together an elevated scheme to build off of their tremendous year one. “We had so much success last season, but this league is always changing. If you don’t stay ahead… remember the 2018 Chicago Bears versus the 2019 Chicago Bears, let’s put it that way.” JC is correct, staleness leads to being overtaken time and time again and New Orleans was apparently hard at work crafting a new offense and defense that looks just as talented as last years.
The key losses of Andrus Peat, Demario Davis, Jaylon Smith, and Isaac Yiadom didn’t seem to matter as the rookies at all four of those positions played their roles and the team thrived as a result. Graham Barton didn’t allow Brian Burns anything on the offensive line, Smael Mondon Jr had 3 tackles for loss and combined on a sack with Caden Sterns and Cameron Jordan, Junior Colson and Jaylon Carlies held down their respective roles as well in the impressive defensive effort.
The new offensive scheme featured a much higher split of carries even with Kendre Miller out as Taysom Hill is back to where he should be being a threat all around the field as he had 5 rushes for only 12 yards but also 3 catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams ran the ball extremely well but fumbled a combined 3 times so despite the good yards per carry and Kamara’s two touchdowns, it looks like Miller will get the RB1 role he earned in camp when he comes back. The passing game was also rolling as Carr’s 60% completion isn’t anything to write home about but his 258 yards and 4 touchdowns on just 14 completions and 23 attempts is amazing. Chris Olave returned to form with 97 yards and a touchdown and the rookie Johnny Wilson also impressed with 74 yards and a touchdown, although he was unable to make a long touchdown catch in bounds earlier in the game. The Saints got the ball to 8 receivers but Rashid Shaheed who played the 3rd most amount of wr snaps, did not see a catch.
On defense, the new scheme involved a lot of man coverage and blitzing although coach JC said “every week is a new defensive gameplan, you can count on that” so it seems New Orleans is sticking to their guns of disguised defense instead of a more typical scheme. It was a smothering performance with 2 interceptions, a lot of pressure, and only 260 total allowed yards, 200 in the air, 60 0n the ground. Caden Sterns and Pete Werner got the picks and the pressure came from all over. Josh Paschal really impressed with 2 tackles for loss alongside two big hits on pass rushes that impacted throws leading to incompletions. Cameron Jordan looked comfortable in his new role inside as well with Payton Turner and Bryan Bresee out, this defensive line didn’t skip a beat. “Next man up, we believe in winning in the trenches and that’s why I believe every defensive lineman on our squad is of starter quality.” Last season the Saints had 13 different players record a sack so it looks like that is still the case for them.
Overall, this was a statement win from the Saints. Many thought their defense was going to be suspect without Demario Davis leading the team and Cameron Jordan clearly in the twilight of his career, but that was not the case. Many thought Derek Carr couldn’t repeat his success and that Olave was the only capable player on this offense with all the old players and rookies around him, but that was not the case. The Saints are 1-0 for the second time in two seasons under JC and will look to get to 2-0 against the Dallas Cowboys next week.
