The New Orleans Saints didn’t have to wait long to get their first win of the season. The Saints took down the Baltimore Ravens 24-17, shocking the NFL.
Plenty of players stood out in the win, including Tyler Shough and Chris Olave, who added to their strong season. But it wasn’t just the Saints’ stars who stood out, and lingering problems made their way back into their Week 2 win.
Up: WR Devaughn Vele
Wide receiver Devaughn Vele had a strong game in the team’s loss against the Detroit Lions. Then, he recorded 7 receptions
for 69 yards and a touchdown. The third-year wideout followed his successful performance with a 5-reception game logging 64 yards against the Ravens.
Third down has quickly been keyed the term “third-and-Vele.” The 6-foot-5 receiver has been a reliable target, and his ability to survive contact and make receptions has made him a valuable resource to the Saints’ offense. With rookie Jordyn Tyson’s return date approaching, assuming he’ll be ready in weeks five or six, Vele has made a strong case to heighten his snap count.
Up: K Daniel Carlson
Kicking has been a major problem for the Saints since they traded away Wil Lutz in 2023. Since then, New Orleans has tried plenty of kickers, often going with younger risers. But after Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown each struggled in preseason and training camp, the Saints brought in veteran Daniel Carlson.
Carlson missed a big kick in the team’s Week 1 loss, missing from 62 to win the game. While still a miss, 62 yards is certainly not automatic, but it still left the Saints with a bit of uncertainty at kicker. Carlson shut all of that down, however, during the team’s win over the Ravens.
The veteran kicker ended the day making all three of his attempts, with makes from 23 yards, 47 yards, and 51 yards. Carlson proved to be vital in the team’s win, scoring their first nine points, and his veteran presence was what kept the team afloat as the offense finally heated up.
Up: TE Juwan Johnson
Tight end Juwan Johnson began a larger role with the Saints last season, and once Shough became the quarterback, he started to look like one of the better tight ends in the NFL. Johnson had a strong role in Week 1, catching three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. While he failed to find the end zone in the win against Baltimore, falling inches short, he probably had a better day in the win.
Johnson logged 4 receptions for 66 yards and made critical plays to keep the Saints offense on the field. The highlight of the day for the veteran tight end was a third and eight where Shough found Johnson short. The wide receiver turned tight end was surrounded by three defenders four yards short of the first-down line before making them miss and taking it 25 yards, leading the Saints into the redzone and ultimately to the game-winning touchdown.
Down: Slow starts
Despite the win, we’ll see another week of concerns about the Saints’ slow starts. New Orleans went scoreless in the first quarter for the second week in a row. The Saints now have six total points through the first half in two games, and 48 points in the second half.
The Saints’ second-half adjustments are serious, but they won’t be able to sustain their luck. The offense has to start faster and find the end zone in the first half for the first time this season. The good news is, I think the Saints will be in a better position to get right against the Las Vegas Raiders at home next week.
New Orleans is in a good spot right now. They’re tied at the top of the NFC South and are the favorites to win the division. Despite being the favorites, starting slow will prevent the team from winning games and force them to continue playing catchup, which isn’t sustainable.
Down: RB Travis Etienne
I don’t think the lack of a run game is directly due to Travis Etienne, but the newly signed running back has had a disappointing start to the season. Through two games, Etienne has logged just 17 carries for 71 yards with an average of 4.2 yards per carry.
Interestingly, Etienne was outcarried by both Alvin Kamara and Shough in Sunday’s win, raising questions about his role with the team. The Saints signed the veteran running back to a $52 million contract in the offseason, so his role is bound to heat up, but his lack of impact on the game is directly tied to the Saints’ slow starts and vice versa.
Once the Saints get the run game right, the offense will be even more lethal. But so far, the run game has been disappointing, and Etienne is at the front of it.
