The Good: Pass Rush
The New Orleans Saints pass rush did a great job getting to Shedeur Sanders on Sunday, sacking the second-year quarterback five times while also getting three additional tackles for loss. Carl Granderson sacked Sanders twice and Chase Young sacked him once. Both players now rank in the top 3 in the NFL in sacks with 7.5 for Granderson and 8 for Young, making them arguably the best pass rushing duo in the league so far this season. Khristian Boyd also picked up his second sack of the season, and Kaden
Elliss had his best game of the year with one sack and a tackle for loss. The sacks were also very timely, with two of them coming on third down and two coming in goal to go situations which helped hold the Browns to a field goal and a turnover on downs in the red zone. The Saints run game also deserves a shoutout this week, as newly returning Audric Estime ran for 72 yards and a touchdown against the team who just waived him a week prior. Estime’s 72 yards were the most by a Saint this year, a good turnaround from their last game when Tyler Shough led the team with 7 rushing yards.
The Bad: Pass Blocking
Despite getting to Shedeur Sanders five times, the Saints also let the Browns sack Tyler Shough five times on Sunday. Four of these sacks came on third down as well, one of which probably cost the Saints three points by turning what would’ve been a 43-yard field goal into a 52-yard field goal which was missed. Only one sack came from a defensive lineman however, as the Saints struggled to keep up with the blitzes ran by Cleveland. The Browns have been good at getting to the quarterback this year, as they came into the game averaging just under 3 sacks per game, so hopefully the Saints offensive line will improve with the return of Kelvin Banks Jr. to the lineup.
The Ugly: Defensive Backs
The Saints defensive backs struggled to keep up with the Browns young receivers on Sunday. They allowed receptions of 60 yards to Denzel Boston and of 64 yards to KC Concepcion which also went for a touchdown. Concepcion beat Martin Emerson Jr. deep and was able to evade both Emerson and Julian Blackmon on his way to the end zone, and Kool-Aid McKinstry got beat deep and then was unable to find an underthrown ball leading to a 60-yard catch and run by Boston. Later in overtime Justin Reid was unable to tackle Harold Fannin Jr. in the open field which led to what could’ve been the winning touchdown if the Saints didn’t stop the ensuing two-point conversion. The Saints pass defense allowed Shedeur Sanders to have arguably the best game of his career and now ranks 28th in the NFL giving up 236 yards per game.
