Considering the opponent, venue, weather conditions and available personnel (or lack thereof), the New Orleans Saints (3-10) posted their best win of the season last week against Tampa Bay.
If the team is going to manufacture its first two-game winning streak of the season, it will need to replicate some of the successes from last week on Sunday in the Caesars Superdome against NFC South Division-leading Carolina (7-6), which New Orleans defeated on Nov. 9 in Charlotte, N.C.
Here are some of the points the Saints need to stick:
1. RUN IT BACK
New Orleans got gritty and grimy on offense with 139 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries against the Buccaneers. Rookies led the way — running back Devin Neal totaled 70 yards and a score on 19 carries, quarterback Tyler Shough added 55 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries — and with Carolina allowing 119 rushing yards per game overall and 141 in the last three, there’s reason for optimism if you’re the Saints. They don’t need to make a living exposing Shough on designed runs, but this isn’t the time to be picky: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
2. MAKE MOBILITY MAGIC
Speaking of Shough, in the first Carolina game (his second start) he completed 19 of 27 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, and receiver Chris Olave caught five of those passes for 104 yards and a score. Olave — who leads the team in receptions (76), receiving yards (811) and receiving and total touchdowns (five) — would love to see some of the one-on-one matchups he saw in the first meeting. Credit the offensive line then and last week. The unit of left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., left guard Dillon Radunz, center Luke Fortner, right guard Cesar Ruiz and right tackle Asim Richards (or Taliese Fuaga, if he returns from injury) has learned on the fly. Shough’s mobility has been an asset.
