Saints Defense Proves Dominant Again in Win vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints may have surrendered their first touchdown of the season, but fret not. Their overall performance was again stellar against the Carolina Panthers.

CHARLOTTE -- Since the 2015 return of Dennis Allen, defense has become the identity of the New Orleans Saints. Now, with Allen's elevation to head coach before the 2021 season, defense is the team's DNA. That fact has been on full display through the first two games of the season. New Orleans has provided stifling defensive play to kick off the year. Their stout performance is a welcome sight as it is fair to assume that without the unit's play, the Saints may just as easily be 0-2 as oppose to the team's first 2-0 start since 2013.But just how dominant has the team been relative to its previous success?

Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) signals a turnover by Carolina Panthers in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

It must be acknowledged that sound defense is not a new concept in the Big Easy. However, things are different to begin the 2023 regular season. In each of the last three seasons, New Orleans has been ranked top-10 scoring and total yardage allowed. They have had several top-5 finishes in both categories as well as others like passing and rushing yards allowed as well. 

But it is the fast start that sets 2023's group apart. Here are the average points surrendered in the first three games of the season since 2015:

2015: 26
2016: 32
2017: 26
2018: 34.3
2019: 27.3
2020: 31.3
2021: 14
2022: 22.7

Here in 2023, the unit is on pace for its second-best scoring start through the first trio of games. They have currently allowed just 16 points per game in the last two. Those two games are a part of a strong run for the defense which has allowed 20 or fewer points for the last 10 contests, a franchise best.

One of the factors that separates the New Orleans defense has been the group's effectiveness at all levels. The defensive line has piled on 7 sacks and 17 hits on opposing quarterbacks to start the. year. Per Pro Football Reference, the Saints defense had just 34 quarterback hits in 2022. In two games, they are already halfway to their previous season's total.

Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) chases Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner have picked up right where they left off last season as a fantastic sideline-to-sideline, do-it-all duo. Davis in particular had an impressive night against the Carolina Panthers with 7 combined tackles, a sack and hit on quarterback Bryce Young and a tackle for a loss. The second level has been a terror for opposing quarterbacks and offenses as a whole.

But perhaps the headline of it all in the early goings has been the secondary. Cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor and safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye have been outstanding. Perfect? Of course not, it is the NFL after all. But outstanding. The group has only been targeted more than 20 yards downfield 5 times this season allowing a single completion. 

Monday night against the Panthers' young signal caller, the defense was only targeted a once deep. Young's pass resulted in a 22-yard completion to rookie wideout Jonathan Mingo and set up a late touchdown. But the key takeaway is the timing of the connection. Young threw that pass with only 1:26 left in the fourth quarter. Before that, the area of the field was either completely covered or pressure was able to keep Young from pushing the ball downfield.

In either case, the secondary, defensive line and linebackers are getting the job done across every phase of the game. The team also saw a boost in its run defense productivity. The Saints went from being ranked No. 29 across the NFL in Week 1 in rush EPA per play allowed to ranking No. 12 in Week 2. What a difference one Derrick Henry makes, right?

Sep 10, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) intercepts. Pass against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The team has limited explosive plays, pressured quarterbacks, improved week-over-week against the run and has forced turnovers. This is the brand of New Orleans Saints defense that does not usually catch its stride until nearly midseason. This year's fast start is evident and its wildly important to the success of the team as a whole.

Lastly, a sentiment always often about the Saints' defense is that the unit goes as Lattimore does. If that is true, then there is no wonder why the team has been elite on that side of the ball because the 2017 defensive rookie of the year has been better than elite to start the season. Against Carolina he will be credited for surrendering a 6-yard catch to veteran wideout Adam Thielen on a screen pass. But outside of that, Lattimore added yet another pass breakup to his ledger, now totaling four on the season. Last week against the Titans he was remarkable adding an interception to his three pass breakups and is credited as allowing only 9 receiving yards as the nearest defender by ESPN's stats and info.

While the offense continues to get into its groove, a task that seems far more likely to happen this season than it ever did in 2022, the defense is playing out of its mind and keeping the team alive. The team's display has been simply dominant and has helped to keep the team afloat notching its first 2-0 start since 2013. Next week they will face a big test traveling to take on the Green Bay Packers. The team has one of the NFL's best playcallers in Matt LaFleur, a stellar young passer in Jordan Love and a stout defense of their own. It will be a big test, but one that feels far from insurmountable with the way this defense has played to open the season.