The New Orleans Saints are back in action in Week 2 with a visit from the San Francisco 49ers. Let’s take a look at what either outcome would mean for the black and gold as they look to grab their first victory of 2025 on Sunday afternoon.
If the Saints win
The 49ers have already ruled out star tight end George Kittle ahead of Sunday, and quarterback Brock Purdy’s status remains in question. Regardless, a win on Sunday would mean a remarkably impressive outcome for the Saints.
While the Niners’ defense isn’t considered
league-best by any stretch, and key personnel may be absent on the offensive side of the ball, the team has aspirations of a deep playoff run. Put simply, the gap in expectation between the hosts and visitors is quite substantial. San Francisco opened the week as 6.5-point favorites on the road for a reason. Should the Saints pull this one off, it would mark a statement victory for second-year pro Spencer Rattler and Kellen Moore, who are each searching for their first NFL wins as starting quarterback and head coach, respectively.
A win would also likely mean the defense builds on what was a reasonably impressive showing in the season debut, where penalties were the main limiting factor. Chase Young will be hoping to return to the field against his former team after missing out a week ago, and his presence would surely help matters for the black and gold in their pursuit of an upset victory.
If the Saints lose
A Saints loss on Sunday wouldn’t come as a surprise to many. What takeaways may be drawn will depend on the nature of the defeat. If New Orleans loses in blowout fashion, the positives we took from the Arizona clash may lose some merit, particularly should Purdy miss out for San Francisco.
But a loss akin to the one we saw last week may leave a rather similar feeling to the Cardinals game: a balance of disappointment and quiet optimism.
No one on the CSC staff predicted a Saints win in this matchup. If the black and gold are in with a chance late in the game, many will see the positives in that. A loss wouldn’t mean too much distress, but with the potential for a variety of key players to be out for the 49ers, one might at least expect the Saints to keep it close.
How are you feeling ahead of Sunday’s clash? What might it mean for you should the Saints drop to 0-2, or even pull off a win against a considerably tough opponent? Let us know in the comments!
