Saints Open 2023 Season With Elite Matchup

Now that wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has signed with the Tennessee Titans, he will open 2023 across from Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

In what was already set to be an intriguing matchup, the Tennessee Titans just added more excitement to their Week 1 contest against the New Orleans Saints. The season opener will now include not only the return of former Tulane running back Tyjae Spears to the Big Easy, but the Titans will now debut their newest and biggest offseason addition: All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The Saints though, should be ready thanks to their own Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) takes the field before they take on the New Orleans Saints at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Oct. 20, 2022

The Saints last met Hopkins just a season ago in their Thursday Night debacle against the Arizona Cardinals. The 34-42 loss for New Orleans was headlined by two pick-sixes served up by former quarterback Andy Dalton along with some bobbled connections. But one of the bigger takeaways was the return of Hopkins from his six-game PED-related suspension.

The Saints were the first team all season to face Hopkins. Unfortunately for them, he did not disappoint the fans in Phoenix. His 10 catches and 103 receiving yards led his team and quickly proved he had not missed a step in his absence.

New Orleans will hope to match up much better against the wideout to open the 2023 season and look to be in good shape in that respect. In Week 7 of last year the team went in to face the Cardinals without both of their top cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo who missed the game due to injuries. During the first possession, they also lost starting slot cornerback Bradley Roby.

While then-rookie cornerback Alontae Taylor matched up remarkably well against Hopkins, he still found success against replacement-level players. Of his 10 catches for 103 receiving yards, he totaled 6 receptions for 72 yards through the air against defensive backs Chris Harris Jr. and Justin Evans, per Pro Football Focus.

Oct 20, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, United States; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) fights for extra yards after a catch against New Orleans Saints safety Chris Harris Jr. (19) at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-Arizona Republic Nfl Cardinals Saints Photos New Orleans Saints At Arizona Cardinals

Against Taylor, Hopkins reeled in just 1 catch amounting to 17 yards on only a pair of targets. However, to start the 2023 season the Saints should have their top cornerback Lattimore ready to go. The matchup of Hopkins vs. the Saints' No. 1 guy should be a ton of fun to watch. Definitely worth getting the popcorn ready.

Whether or not Taylor will earn the second cornerback spot over Adebo remains to be seen. (A huge storyline to follow throughout training camp.) But you should expect to see Hopkins move all around the offensive formation. Meaning he should take snaps across from Lattimore, Taylor or Adebo and Roby when in the slot. 

It will be a big task to limit the duo of Hopkins and second-year wideout Treylon Burks. A barometer to open the season against. The two will also be aided by what projects to be a fantastic rushing attack as well between Spears and Derrick Henry. The good news for New Orleans is that Tennessee runs an entirely different style of offense than the Cardinals, meaning some calibration time will be needed for Hopkins to adjust to his new digs.

That, along with a weak quarterback room and offensive line, will play a factor. The Cardinals spent nearly 90% of their offense coming out of shotgun formations looking to air it out. The Titans will not have that type of attack, or at least are not projected to. That could work in the Saints' favor. But no matter what, it should be an exciting and tone-setting matchup to watch between Hopkins and the Saints' secondary.