Key Takeaways From the Saints’ Narrow Loss to the Eagles
The New Orleans Saints fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in a tightly contested 15-12 loss during Week Three of the 2024 NFL season. Despite showing flashes of promise, the Saints' offensive inefficiencies and failure to capitalize on key moments allowed the Eagles to pull away late in the game. This was led by a dominant performance from Saquon Barkley. In the game, Barkley rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
One of the biggest takeaways for the Saints is their inability to establish an effective ground game. Rushing for only 90 yards on 29 attempts, the Saints averaged just 3.1 yards per carry, making it difficult to sustain long drives or control the tempo. Alvin Kamara struggled to make a significant impact, and without a reliable rushing attack, the offense became one-dimensional, placing too much pressure on quarterback Derek Carr. For the Saints to rebound in upcoming games, the run game must return to providing balance and keeping defenses on their heels.
A key factor in the Saints’ struggles was the injury to Taysom Hill, who is dealing with a chest injury he suffered in the Saints’ win over the Dallas Cowboys. Hill, often used in critical third-down situations and as a versatile offensive weapon, was sorely missed. His absence limited New Orleans' ability to run creative offensive plays, making the Saints more predictable and easier for the Eagles’ defense to handle. Another major issue was the Saints' struggles in converting third downs, going six-for-13 in critical situations. Philadelphia’s defense consistently forced New Orleans into third-and-long situations, making it difficult for the Saints to maintain an offensive rhythm. Carr was limited to 130 passing yards, completing only 14 of 25 attempts. A lack of big plays in the passing game hindered New Orleans' ability to respond to the Eagles' scoring drives, especially in the final quarter.
Defensively, the Saints showed resilience, holding Philadelphia to just 15 points. However, the defense was worn down by the Eagles' balanced attack, which generated 460 total yards. Jalen Hurts, while not overwhelming through the air, managed the game efficiently, and Barkley’s ability to break open big plays ultimately tilted the game in the Eagles’ favor. The Saints’ defense must find ways to close out games, especially when leading in the fourth quarter, as they were before Barkley’s late touchdowns.
In the final takeaway, the Saints' special teams deserve credit for keeping the team in contention. Kicker Blake Grupe was perfect, nailing both of his field-goal attempts. This included a 38-yarder by Grupe that pulled the Saints within three points late in the game. However, missed opportunities on offense overshadowed the solid special teams play.
If the Saints want to bounce back, improving offensive efficiency and finding ways to finish close games will be critical heading into the rest of the season. Looking ahead to their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on September 29th, 2024, the Saints will need to focus on improving their ground game and controlling time of possession to secure a win. Shutting down Atlanta’s explosive run game, led by Bijan Robinson, will be critical for the Saints' defense. Offensively, Carr must find more success through the air, utilizing weapons like Chris Olave to stretch the field. Cleaning up penalties and improving third-down conversions will also be key to bouncing back in the division rivalry game.
