Coming off one of their most impressive win of the 2020s, the New England Patriots cannot rest on their laurels. Week 6, after all, presents them with a second straight road trip. And while their opponent
is, on paper, very much beatable, the New Orleans Saints have all the makings to turn this into a trap game.
So, without further ado, let’s get to know them.
Saints key stats
The Saints are heading into this week’s game having won just one of their first five games of the season. Their statistics are a reflection of their lack of success so far.
Record: 1-4 (4th NFC South)
Scoring differential: -43 (27th)
Turnover differential: +5 (t-4th)
Offense: 18.4 points/game (27th), 307.2 yards/game (24th), 3 giveaways (t-5th), 0.024 EPA/dropback (25th), -0.137 EPA/run (23rd)
Defense: 27.0 points/game (24th), 326.2 yards/game (17th), 8 takeaways (t-5th), 0.139 EPA/dropback (21st), -0.144 EPA/run (9th)
Ranking 27th in the NFL in scoring differential and in the bottom half in most of the other key stats, not a lot went right for the Saints early in their first season under new head coach Kellen Moore. However, there are a few exceptions, most notably their ability to hold onto that football and generate turnovers. The club’s top-5 ranking in that second category, however, is a bit deceiving: five of those came during last week’s win against the New York Giants.
Saints 2025 season
The Saints’ season started off badly, but like the Patriots they will be entering Week 6 off a victory.
Week 1: 20-13 loss vs. Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
Week 2: 26-21 loss vs. San Francisco 49ers (0-2)
Week 3: 44-12 loss at Seattle Seahawks (0-3)
Week 4: 31-19 loss at Buffalo Bills (0-4)
Week 5: 26-14 win vs. New York Giants (1-4)
The Saints started their season with back-to-back home games against two teams that would, on paper, have been beatable. However, both the inconsistent Cardinals and a 49ers team missing its starting quarterback were still able to secure road victories.
New Orleans did not fare much better in the two road games that followed. The game in Seattle was decided at the half, with the Seahawks taking a 38-6 lead into the locker room, while the Bills pulled away late to secure a convincing win.
Last Sunday’s game against the Giants was a different story, though. Despite falling behind 14-3 in the early second quarter, they rallied to win their first game of the season.
Saints active roster
(Note: Roster up-to-date as of Oct. 8, 5 a.m. ET; *denotes nominal starter)
Quarterback (2): Spencer Rattler* (2), Tyler Shough (6)
Running back (3): Alvin Kamara* (41), Kendre Miller (5 | KR), Devin Neal (24)
Wide receiver (5): Chris Olave* (12), Rashid Shaheed* (22 | PR), Brandin Cooks* (10), Devaughn Vele (14), Mason Tipton (15)
Tight end (4): Juwan Johnson* (83), Foster Moreau (87), Jack Stoll (88), Taysom Hill (7)
Offensive tackle (4): Kelvin Banks Jr.* (71), Taliese Fuaga* (75), Asim Richards (72), Xavier Truss (74)
Interior offensive line (6): Trevor Penning* (70), Erik McCoy* (78), Cesar Ruiz* (51), Dillon Radunz (77), Luke Fortner (79), Torricelli Simpkins III (68)
Interior defensive line (6): Bryan Bresee* (90), Nathan Shepherd* (93), Davon Godchaux* (92), Jonah Williams (54), Jonathan Bullard (98), Khristian Boyd (97)
Defensive edge (4): Chase Young* (99), Carl Granderson* (96), Cameron Jordan (94), Chris Rumph II (58)
Linebacker (5): Demario Davis* (56), Pete Werner* (20), Isaiah Stalbird (44), Danny Stutsman (28), Jaylan Ford (53)
Cornerback (7): Kool-Aid McKinstry* (4), Alontae Taylor* (1), Isaac Yiadom (27), Quincy Riley (29), Ugo Amadi (0), Rejzohn Wright (25), Michael Davis (—)
Safety (4): Justin Reid (21)*, Jonas Sanker (33)*, Jordan Howden (31), Terrell Burgess (26)
Specialists (3): Blake Grupe (19 | K), Kai Kroeger (32 | P/H), Zach Wood (49 | LS)
The Saints may not have the most star-studded roster in the NFL, but they do have some big names on both sides of the ball worth discussing. Whether or not quarterback Spencer Rattler is among them is up for debate, but the 2024 fifth-round draft pick was moved into the starting spot this offseason following Derek Carr’s surprise retirement.
In his five starts this season, Rattler has played decent football at times and completed 119 of 177 passes (67.2%) for 990 yards with six touchdowns and just one interception; he also was sacked nine times and has fumbled the ball twice. However, he has mostly played a risk-averse game while operating in the short area of the field: 62% of his passes so far have targeted an area within 10 yards down the field, and he is ranked 30th in the league in yards per attempt (5.6) and 26th in intended air yards (7.0).
Rattler’s supporting cast is led by serious experience. Alvin Kamara is still heavily involved in Year 9 and leading the team with 360 scrimmage yards; Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are the team’s top two wideouts and ranked first in receptions (33) and receiving yards (288), respectively; Juwan Johnson also remains a key part of the operation as the clear TE1, with ex-Patriot Brandin Cooks the club’s WR3.
New Orleans also has some big names along the offensive line: four of the five starters are former first-round draft picks, with second-round center Erik McCoy the lone exception. However, the group’s draft pedigree has not translated to success so far this season; the group has been among the least effective in the NFL so far.
On the other side of the ball, the Saints also have plenty of experience. Nathan Shepherd, Davon Godchaux, Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, Demario Davis, Isaac Yiadom and Jordan Reid — all of whom candidates to either start or see high-quality snaps on Sunday — have all played tons of football over their careers.
They are complemented by some emerging young talent, especially in the secondary. That group includes the current NFC Defensive Player of the Week, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, as well as impressive rookie safety Jonas Sanker.
Saints reserves
Practice squad (15): QB Jake Haener (3), WR Kevin Austin Jr. (81), WR Ronnie Bell (—), WR Dante Pettis (11), TE Moliki Matavao (—), Treyton Welch (82), OL Easton Kilty (73), OL William Sherman (66), DT Coziah Izzard (59), ED Fadil Diggs (40), ED Eku Leota (55), LB Nephi Sewell (45), CB Dalys Beanum (37), CB Jayden Price (38), S Elliot Davison (35)
Practice squad exempt (1): K Charlie Smyth
Practice squad injured reserve (1): QB Hunter Dekkers
Injured reserve (11): WR Bub Means, WR Trey Palmer, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, TE Mason Pline, OT Berry Wesley (IR-R), OT Landon Young, OL Will Clapp, OL Nick Saldiveri, DT Vernon Broughton, DT John Ridgeway III (IR-R), S Julian Blackmon
New Orleans has some noteworthy players on both its practice squad and injured reserve lists, including some ex-Patriots: offensive lineman William Sherman was drafted by New England in 2021, while wideout Ja’Lynn Polk — a second-round selection last year — was traded to the Saints just earlier this season.
One player worth pointing out beyond those two is safety Julian Blackmon. Originally a starter at safety, he suffered a season-ending labrum injury in Week 1.
Saints coaching staff
Head coach: Kellen Moore
Coordinators: Doug Nussmeier (OC), Brandon Staley (DC), Phil Galiano (ST)
As mentioned above, the Saints hired a new head coach this offseason. They brought in former Cowboys, Chargers and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to take over for Dennis Allen, who was fired after seven straight losses last November. Moore went on to pretty much clean house.
Only two members of the 2024 coaching staff — assistant offensive line coach Jahri Evans and new special teams coordinator Phil Galiano — were retained. The rest of the group, including the coordinators on both offense and defense was brought in alongside the new HC. Similar to the Patriots, this is a staff in the early stages of developing chemistry.
