The Saints have added a bunch of new weapons on offense this offseason to improve a pretty vanilla offense of last year. Will it be enough though against the Titans and their stout defense and improved offense of their own?
The Saints put together one of the best running back rooms in the league. However, Alvin Kamara will not be playing, serving his three game suspension for violating league policy. Kendre Miller is dealing with a hamstring issue, so it looks like Jamaal Williams will carry the bulk of the load. Which we know he is capable of doing. He had a 4.1 YPC for the Lions in 2022.
That running game will have its work cut out for it, going against the best run defense in the NFL last season. The Titans were stifling against the run last year allowing only 76.9 rushing yards per game. Lets not forget this is with all the injuries that plagued the Titans the last two seasons.
The Saints have a new quarterback in Derek Carr, who just signed a four year contract after being released from the Raiders. He also has two reliable targets in Chris Olave and Michael Thomas. The Titans secondary still has to prove they are better than last season, which how can they not be? They finished dead last in this category with 274.8 YPG. Hopefully the small changes we have made are enough.
The Titans do have one thing to combat that passing game though. They have put together one of the best pass rushing defenses in the league. With the return of Harold Landry, who is coming off of an ACL injury. Plus, Denico Autry, Teair Tart, and Jeffery Simmons on the line. Then Rotational rushers Arden Key, Rashad Weaver, Trevis Gipson, and Caleb Murphy. They have plenty of ways to get in the backfield.
The Titans have also revamped their offense this offseason. Along with replacing Todd Downing with Tim Kelly, they have added wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. This should take a lot of heat off the running game. As teams are used to stacking the box against the Titans to stop our most potent weapon in Derrick Henry. This year will be a little harder to do with the three main targets we have this year. However, Burks hurt himself in camp and might not play in this game. Even though the injury isn’t as bad as we all thought initially and he has been practicing all week, he was thought to be out or questionable for the first two games at least.
Injury report has Trey Avery, Harold Landry, and Dillion Radunz are all limited participation. While Treylon Burks, Arden Key, and Will Levis are listed as full participants.
I believe this game comes down to their offense against our defense, and whoever wins that battle wins the game.
My prediction is Titans 28 Saints 14
