The New Orleans Saints host the Tennessee Titans in the Big Easy on Sunday afternoon to open the 2023 season. It’s shaping up to be a battle between two veteran squads looking for redemption. New Orleans also looks competitive in a division full of intrigue. Who will get their 2023 campaign off the right start in a crucial season for both? What are some things to watch for in this showdown between Southern rivals?
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Saints Offense vs. Titans Defense
The most significant change that the Saints underwent this past offseason was the Derek Carr acquisition. The former Raider quickly found a home in New Orleans after being unceremoniously dumped by Las Vegas. Like most teams in the preseason, the Saints did not put their starters out there for most of it. How will the layoff affect the readiness of OC Pete Carmichael’s unit?
OL vs. DL Matchups to Watch
The Saints feature a veteran offensive line that includes four starters who have been with the team for the last four seasons. Left tackle Trevor Penning is the youngster of the group, slated to make his first Opening Day start coming off injury in 2022. The interior will be the key for the Saints to win with three long-term starters in Andrus Peat, Erik McCoy, and Cesar Ruiz. All three will be taking turns battling all-everything Jeffery Simmons and the underrated Teair Tart. Simmons could be the best non-Aaron Donald defensive tackle in the game today. Introducing Penning for his first opener will be a combo of Denico Autry, Arden Key, and the returning Harold Landry. Right tackle Ryan Ramcyzk against the Titans’ ferocious pass rush will be fascinating to watch as well. Look for Rashad Weaver and Trevis Gipson to make potential impacts as well.
It will be one of the more highly interesting OL vs. DL matchups the Titans will have this season. If the Titans can force their way into the backfield, newcomer Derek Carr will have a long day at the office.
Skill-on Skill Matchups to Watch
Forcing pressure will be the key for the Titans as the Saints have a bevy of weapons including an aging Michael Thomas and underrated tight end Juwan Johnson. 2022 first-round selection Chris Olave was in the running for OROY last season, which ultimately went to former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson. Of course, the Titans will have to watch out for utility asset Taysom Hill. New Orleans has a pair of intriguing young receivers in rookie A.T. Perry and Rashid Shaheed, who got a lot of deep shots last season. The Saints RB situation is precarious due to Alvin Kamara being suspended for three games. Former Detroit Lion runner Jamaal Williams will draw the start most likely in his stead.
While it remains to be seen who draws what assignment, Tennessee will likely counter Olave with Kristian Fulton. Sean Murphy-Bunting will probably draw Michael Thomas, and Roger McCreary will get Shaheed. Carr has a history of favoring the check-down options so the Titans will have to play the short to intermediate game well to have a chance defensively.
Titans Offense vs. Saints Defense
OL vs. DL Matchups to Watch
This is where the game’s fate will be decided. Tennessee’s vastly unproven line against the Saints’ stingy defensive line filled to the brim with athletes. Andre Dillard going up against star veteran pass rusher Cameron Jordan will be a huge key for both sides. Promising rookie Peter Skoronski will get his first test against veteran Khalen Saunders and fellow rookie Bryan Bresee. Aaron Brewer will be making his first start since taking over for Ben Jones full-time at center. Right tackle has been epically problematic for the Titans and Daniel Brunskill is the latest to give it a try. He’ll likely be matched up against Carl Granderson. Projected right guard Dillon Radunz made a shockingly early return to the lineup last week.
The trouble is that the starting five haven’t had all that much time together so it might be tough for them to gel so quickly against a talented front four like the Saints.
Skill-on Skill Matchups to Watch
Tennessee’s receivers will get a stern test right off the bat with the Saints’ big and physical corners. Marshon Lattimore, when healthy, is a top-ten corner in the game. Second-year pro Alontae Taylor had some rookie struggles early on but came on strong as the season progressed. Paulsen Adebo is another Stanford corner who plays big and has thrived with the Saints. It will be interesting to see how the chess match is deployed between a stout secondary and the duo of Hopkins and Burks.
The Titans will need to get their running game (Derrick Henry) going early against a solid linebacker room that features a highly productive duo of Demario Davis and Pete Werner. The Saints’ safety duo is vastly underrated with Honey Badger and veteran Marcus Maye patrolling things. It doesn’t help matters when Tennessee has a distinct lack of capable and proven receivers outside of the top two.
Perhaps OC Tim Kelly will offset the receiver issues by deploying dynamic athlete Tyjae Spears in a slot-back type of role and using Chig Okonkwo more than in previous seasons.
Weather Report
While the Caesar’s Superdome is a temperature-controlled hostile environment, the weather outside for Sunday should be toasty as usual. Sunday’s forecast is projected to be 95 degrees with a seven percent chance of rain and a cloudless summer day. Winds are predicted to be at nine miles per hour. The building is notorious for the intensity of its fans, raising the collective temperature internally for everyone involved.
Odds and Ends
The Tennessee Titans lead the all-time series with a record of 9-6-1. Tennessee and New Orleans have split the past two matchups under Mike Vrabel’s tenure. In those two games, the Saints have outscored the Titans by a margin of 59-51. These two teams last played each other during the 2021 season.
Uniform
🚨Wardrobe check:🚨 The #Titans will be decked out in the icy whites — jerseys, britches and socks — in Sunday’s game vs the @Saints.
👖❄️#BritchesReport pic.twitter.com/2MWwHwzCO7— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 6, 2023
Betting
The Saints are currently favored by three, while the money line sits at Saints -158. The Over/Under is at 40.5 total points, with the under looking like the best bet.
According to ESPN, Tennessee is 19-13 under Coach Vrabel as three points or higher underdogs. Dennis Allen has failed to cover the spread an astounding 32 times out of 53 in his career.
Both teams were pretty poor in terms of the over last season with Tennessee sporting a 5-12 record in that regard. The Saints were similarly moribund with a 6-11 record.
New Orleans averaged 19.4 points per game with seven games scoring less than 20 in 2022. Tennessee’s offense was even worse, posting a paltry 17.5 points per game with 11 scoring less than 20 last season.
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Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference
Note that these odds will continue to shift as we get closer to kickoff.
Prediction
Tennessee 14
NEW ORLEANS 24
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Main Photo Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
