The Saints will travel to Jacksonville this weekend in search of their first road win of the season. A win will give them a 3-1 record and at least a share of the NFC South division lead, positioning them nicely heading into the season’s second quarter. They face a Jaguars team that isn’t sitting quite so pretty at 1-2 and fresh off of treating Cam Newton to his first NFL victory in week 3. The Saints offense will look to start fast and come out of Sunday’s game just as they entered it–as the top-scoring team in the NFC.
PASSING GAME
It will be full steam ahead for Drew Brees and company (when isn’t it?) as they try to take advantage of a Jacksonville defense that is quietly putting together a solid early season. Jacksonville ranks fourth overall on defense and seventh against the pass, which will no doubt inspire Sean Payton to get creative in how he attacks this unit.
With Marques Colston potentially returning this week, expect the Saints to spread the field and for Drew Brees to target different receivers throughout the game to keep the Jaguars on their toes. With so many receiving options available, watch for the Saints to try to work the matchups with Jimmy Graham and Lance Moore creating mismatches against Jacksonville’s new-look linebacking group that now includes former Colt Clint Session and former Bill Paul Posluszny.
RUNNING GAME
The Saints aren’t the type of team who will run over a defense all day, but as long as they create winning plays of 4 yards or more at a time, the Saints are getting what they need from the running backs. Mark Ingram appears to be getting closer to hitting his stride, Pierre Thomas is producing 4.8 yards per carry, and Darren Sproles is causing nightmares for opposing defense coordinators.
Jacksonville will try to stop the Saints up front with their massive 2010 first-round draft pick, defensive tackle Tyson Alualu. The Saints come in with some injury concerns on the offensive line, so it will be important to watch how the line fares against Alualu and pass-rushing defensive end Matt Roth.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Charles Brown vs. Matt Roth. Brown gets his first career start this weekend as a result of Zach Strief’s leg injury, and it will be his job to protect Brees from Roth. Brees and his passing offense has been deadly all year thanks in large part to the great protection he’s been getting from his o-line. With so many weapons, it’s just a matter of time before Brees will find an open target, but the first part of that equation is making sure he has the time he needs to do it. If the Saints are going to have another big day on offense, it will start with the pass protection, and Brown will play a big role in the offense’s success.
