Week 2 of the NFL season includes the New Orleans Saints playing at the Baltimore Ravens. It's the second straight road trip for the Saints, who dropped a highly entertaining 31-30 overtime heart-stopper at the Detroit Lions to open 0-1. The Ravens are playing their home opener after a decisive 41-23 win at the Indianapolis Colts to open up their year last week.
New Orleans got off to a rocky start offensively against the Lions. Their passing game came to life in a big way during the second half. However, the rushing attack stayed quiet throughout the contest. They now face a Ravens defense usually among the most physical in the NFL. Whether the New Orleans running game can wake up at Baltimore is the subject of this Week 2 game analysis.
Baltimore Ravens run defense
2025
statistics
- 106.7 yards per game (10th)
- 4.2 per carry (11th)
- 18 touchdowns (20th)
- 66 tackles for loss
2026 Week 1 statistics
- 102 yards
- 5.1 per carry
- 2 touchdowns
- 6 tackles for loss
Baltimore jumped out to a 31-13 halftime lead against the Colts and held a 22-point lead into the fourth quarter. This helped eliminate the second half running game for Indianapolis, though Jonathan Taylor still picked up 98 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Still, the Ravens are traditionally one of the league's most stout running defenses. That is expected to continue under new defensive-minded head coach Jesse Minter and new coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Baltimore's best run defender among their down linemen, Nnambi Madubuike, will miss this contest with a neck injury. This also thins out a Ravens front line that includes standout nose tackle Travis Jones and veteran Calais Campbell, who is a better pass rusher than run defender. This is also the case with edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who doesn't shy away from run duties but can also be leveraged off the point of attack.
Linebacker Roquan Smith is one of the better all-around defensive players in the NFL. He's had at least 130 tackles in all three of his full seasons with Baltimore and has crossed the 100-tackle plateau in each of his first eight years. Smith has an elite blend of awareness and athleticism that allows him to be in on nearly every play.
New Orleans Saints rushing attack
2025 statistics
- 94.3 yards per game (28th)
- 3.7 per carry (31st)
- 9 touchdowns (27th)
2026 Week 1 statistics
- 91 yards
- 3.6 per carry
- 1 touchdown
After a concentrated offseason effort to improve an abysmal running game, we saw much of the same from the Saints in Week 1 on the ground. Offseason free-agent pickup Travis Etienne was never able to get going against the Lions, picking up only 46 rushing yards in 9 attempts. Most of those were into the teeth of Detroit's defense. It would be intelligent of New Orleans to get Etienne off-tackle more often against the Ravens.New Orleans could get Alvin Kamara back into the lineup after he missed the opener. Make no mistake, Etienne was signed to be the primary back for the Saints. However, Kamara would provide a versatile 1-2 punch and open up the team's offense.
Kendre Miller was the most effective runner for the Saints at Detroit. While injury-prone, Miller has the inside power and burst to give defenses problems. All three backs have good inside and outside capability, but the Saints must find a way to get their running back to the second level of the defense, where each possess the ability to make a big play.
New Orleans didn't win enough trench battles against the Lions. Talented tackles Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga need to get push off the line so Etienne and the running game have an option to bounce outside. On the inside, offseason signing David Edwards at guard and standout veteran center Erik McCoy must open the necessary interior rushing lanes.
Expect the Saints to attack Baltimore off-tackle early to establish their running game. Doing so could open inside cutback options for Etienne, Miller, and Kamara if he's healthy. Etienne should get most of the early work. However, the Ravens could see a heavy dose of all three backs, with two on the field together at times for a different look. The Saints need to have rushing success early to take some pressure off quarterback Tyler Shough and their passing game to sustain drives and open up their playbook options.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints running game must come to life against Ravens defense
