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After a disappointing week seven loss to Jacksonville, the New Orleans Saints have gone 1-4 through the last five weeks of play. A bounce-back win is desperately needed against the Indianapolis Colts, who are coming off of two straight losses as well.
Here are three crucial statistics to know going into the week eight matchup in Indianapolis.
153 Yards
What does this mean: All-purpose yards gained by Alvin Kamara against the Jaguars
Why should I care: It feels like the only consistent player on this Saints offense is Alvin Kamara, and maybe Michael Thomas when called upon. Kamara recorded 62 rushing yards and 91 receiving yards against the Jaguars last week. While Carr’s reliability drops and the offensive line is still recovering from injuries, Kamara will need to be excellent every single week until something changes. It’s great to see him so involved in the passing game, something we did not see in 2022. Expect another big game from Kamara on Sunday.
#Saints RB Alvin Kamara's vision and footwork are insane. He takes this for 10+ yards. If NOLA can get any level of consistency with their run fits the rushing attack is gonna take off. AK still playing at a high level. pic.twitter.com/b5tijCv9wD
— RevDeuce (@RevDeuceWindham) October 21, 2023
17 Points
What does this mean: First-half points scored by the Jaguars against the Saints
Why should I care: This Saints defense is still one of the league’s best, but it has to control scoring in the first half. The Jaguars scored 17 points in the first half, which is also what the Texans scored in the first half two weeks ago. There usually seem to be some pretty good second-half adjustments, but that won’t get the job done with this abysmal Saints’ offense. If the Saints can shut down Minshew and the run game in the first half, perhaps Carr and Carmichael can pull together a few touchdowns and come away with a win.
39 Passes
What does this mean: Gardner Minshew’s passing attempts per game over the past two weeks
Why should I care: The Colts offense is good… but confusing. Even with two stellar running backs in Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss Gardner, Minshew has been slinging the rock. The Saints will be worried about stopping the running duo, as they should, but Gardner Minshew is not a quarterback to mess around with. He can be erratic, but the secondary needs to be as well prepared as the front line on Sunday. Last week, Minshew had a fantastic 15-23 performance with 305 yards and two touchdowns. Don’t be surprised if Minshew throws for over 200 yards against the Saints defense.
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