Saints Passing Game Must Come to Life at Texans

The Saints showed some offensive progress against New England, but their passing game needs to show a major spark for a Week 6 win at Houston.

The 3-2 New Orleans Saints look for a second straight win after a 34-0 road victory over the New England Patriots last Sunday. Though helped by a defensive touchdown, the 34 points were the most scored by the Saints in their last 15 games. 

New Orleans comes into this game with the league's 25th ranked offense. They average 289 total yards and 19.2 points per contest. Disappointing production for a unit full of playmakers and an experienced coaching staff.

The Saints travel to face a 2-3 Houston Texans squad full of young players on the defensive side. Houston comes into this contest ranked 18th in total defense, allowing nearly 339 yards per game. The Texans rank just 28th on third downs but 11th in scoring defense. They've allowed 20 points per game and have held their last three opponents to 21 points or less.

New Orleans got their running game on track against the Patriots. They'll likely need better production from their passing attack to defeat an up and coming Houston team on the road.

Saints Passing Attack vs. Texans Pass Defense 

Houston Pass Defense 

Oct 1, 2023; Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY

The Texans rank 18th at defending the pass, giving up 226.4 yards per game. They've allowed three touchdown throws while intercepting three passes, but opposing quarterbacks are completing 72.4% of their attempts against Texans coverage. 

Veteran CB Steven Nelson leads the Texans with two interceptions and four passes broken up while allowing 66.7% completion percentage in man coverage. He's complemented by Shaquill Griffin on the other side. Griffin missed last week and has yet to practice this week with a calf injury that puts his status in doubt. He's given up 61% completion percentage this season, but has not had an interception in nearly three years.

Both Griffin and Nelson are limited athletically, but are physical players with good coverage awareness. Ka'dar Hollman is the third corner, with Tavierre Thomas or Grayland Arnold in line for more snaps if Griffin can't play. Veteran CB Jason Verrett was added to the practice squad this week and could be a game day activation. 

Dec 24, 2022; Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre (5) after intercepting a pass against the Tennessee Titans. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Houston has a pair of potentially top-tier safeties. Veteran Jimmie Ward was brought over from San Francisco this offseason. Ward adds outstanding range and leadership to the secondary. Second-year S Jalen Pitre has yet to pick off a pass in 2023, but led the Texans with five interceptions and eight passes broken up last year. Both Pitre and Ward also have the versatility to play slot coverage. 

Rookie fifth-round choice Henry To'oTo'o has been a pleasant surprise at middle LB replacing injured veteran Denzel Perryman the last two games. Perryman (hand) looks like he'll play this week, giving the Texans two solid options at the position. Blake Cashman continues to be a solid player at strongside LB, while second-year LB Christian Harris is emerging as a coverage standout on the weak side. 

Houston has just seven sacks and 22 QB hits on the year, but have an athletic front four capable of disruption. Former Saint Sheldon Rankins teams with Maliek Collins to give the Texans a solid interior rushing duo, but neither have recorded a sack so fat. Collins is tied for the team lead with six QB hits and has 11 pressures, but is dealing with an abdominal injury that has him questionable this week. 

Third overall pick DE Will Anderson has eight pressures but just one sack thus far, but is an explosive player along the edge. Fourth-year DE Jonathan Greenard has been the team’s most pleasant surprise with six pressures but a team-high three sacks. Veteran DE Jerry Hughes (1 sack, 3 pressures) provides terrific pass rushing depth. 

New Orleans Passing Game 

Oct 8, 2023; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws the ball against the New England Patriots. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY

New Orleans averages just 191.8 yards through the air so far, ranking 24th in the league. Since throwing for 305 yards in the season opener, QB Derek Carr has averaged just 160 passing yards the last four games.

Carr has completed 65.3% of his throws with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He's been dealing with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, but still has the arm and accuracy to threaten a defense at every level. 

After being a collection of human turnstiles for pass rushers the first three weeks, the Saints have solidified pass protection a bit. New Orleans quarterbacks have been sacked 17 times this year, but that pace has slowed slightly in the last two games. 

Veteran RT Ryan Ramczyk isn't the elite blocker he once was, but is playing noticeably better after an abysmal start. Second-year LT Trevor Penning may be the team’s best pass blocker over the last three weeks after his own putrid start to the year. However, Penning hasn't been taking first team reps this week, leading to rumors that he'll be replaced by veteran G/T James Hurst. 

The Saints continue to have issues with inside twists and stunts from opponents. Center Erik McCoy, RG Cesar Ruiz, and whoever plays LG between Hurst and Andrus Peat need to do a far better job at recognizing and holding off interior rush combinations. 

If Carr is given time, he has a trip of wideouts and two good receivers out of the backfield to target. Wideouts Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, and Rashid Shaheed have accounted for 76% of the team's receiving production. 

Oct 8, 2023; New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave (12) can t control the ball as he crosses the end zone against the New England Patriots. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY

Olave is a game-breaking threat with 25 receptions for a team-high 318 yards. He's dealing with a foot injury suffered in pre-game last week and has just three catches for 16 yards the last two weeks. Olave has star potential, but needs to make the tough plays to take this offense to the next level. 

Thomas leads the Saints with 26 receptions and has 284 yards. He has yet to reach the end zone but continues to be a dominant player on intermediate routes. Thomas and Carr have a clear chemistry, leading to the quarterback looking for him in key situations. 

Shaheed has game-changing speed and is an underrated route runner, but the team must do a better job at getting him involved. He has 14 catches for 213 yards, but has just five catches for 61 yards the last three weeks. Shaheed and Olave are also dangerous in the open field if used on quick throws or WR screens. 

Sep 24, 2023; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) scores a touchdown on punt against the Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports

After 13 catches, for just 33 yards, in his first game back from suspension last week, Kamara had three catches for 17 yards against New England. The best receiving back in the NFL, Kamara is a viable weapon anywhere around the formation....if used properly. Rookie third-round choice Kendre Miller was far more involved in the passing game last week and has proven to be explosive in the open field. 

The Saints have not used their tight ends as often as expected so far this year. Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, and Jimmy Graham have combined for just 11 catches and 95 yards. Johnson, a converted wideout, presents an athletic mismatch but has missed the last two games and has yet to practice this week because of a calf injury. 

Moreau is more of a traditional in-line tight end, but is still valuable as a short and intermediate receiver. Graham is still a matchup problem near the goal line and can be a viable weapon on specialized packages. Listed as a tight end, most of Taysom Hill’s snaps come out of the backfield. However, he is still dangerous on simple routes and is a passing threat for defenses to deal with. 

What to Watch 

Sep 9, 2019; New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas (13) makes a catch against the Houston Texans. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints showed offensive progress against the Patriots, but the passing game still needs significant improvement. Pass protection must still improve and the lack of spacing on several routes remains a major issue. 

New Orleans needs to get their receiving weapons involved early and at every level of the Texans defense. Houston corners aren't man-to-man specialists, so short quick throws should be available if the Texans play a softer coverage. When they do go man, Carr must immediately identify his best one-on-one matchup. 

Don't be surprised if the Saints use screens to Kamara and Miller early to try and use their bigger linemen against smaller Texans defenders in space. This same strategy can also be employed with Olave and Shaheed on quick outside throws. With Johnson possibly out again, Thomas will be the primary weapon used in the middle of Houston's defense, with Kamara or Miller used on isolation plays against the Texans linebackers. 

Houston gave up over 300 passing yards to Desmond Ridder and an anemic Atlanta Falcons passing attack. The Saints have a much better quarterback and far more weapons than the Falcons. This is the week that aspect of their game needs to show a major spark.