Saints 2023 Week 6 Preview
New Orleans Locks Horns with Texans in Week 6 Bout
New Orleans rebounded in dominating fashion last week by shutting out the New England Patriots 34-0. The next stop of the current road trip will take the Saints into Houston, who is coming off a 19-21 last-minute loss versus Atlanta. The Saints rose to 3-2 as the Texans fell to 2-3. A victory this week for either side will be a huge confidence booster as they head into the middle of the season.
The Matchup:
Week 6 has two teams sitting in third place in their respective divisions. The Saints and Texans will battle each other to earn a big win and move up in the standings. Houston quarterback and 2023 second overall pick C.J. Stroud has been dealing for his young team as he’s already notched several records in his rookie season. The Ohio State alum now owns the record for most pass attempts without an interception to begin a career with the record for most passing yards without throwing an INT. A greedy Saints defense that already owns seven picks through the first five games will look to stop the record numbers. The Saints pitched their third shutout in as many years and have an opportunity to carry momentum into NRG Stadium. This game will be broadcast on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at noon CST on FOX.
Series History:
The Houston Texans are the youngest franchise in the NFL since being established in 1999. They played their first game in the 2002 season. A limited team history means limited opportunities for cross-conference play. The Saints and Texans have only played one another five times; New Orleans leads the all-time series 3-2. Oddly enough, both teams have only staked victory at their home stadium when competing. In the latest contest, New Orleans rejoiced to a 30-28 season-opening triumph off the foot of a Wil Lutz 58-yard field goal as time expired. Will the Texans maintain the pattern in 2023 with a win at home, or will New Orleans flip the script and pick up their third road victory of the year?
Team Rankings Comparison:
| Rank (Week 5) | Saints | Texans |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 3-2 (3rd NFC South) | 2-3 (3rd AFC South) |
| Scoring Avg. | 19.2 (22) | 23.0 (13) |
| Opp. Scoring Avg. | 15.2 (4) | 20.0 (11) |
| Total Off. | 289.0 (25) | 357.4 (11) |
| Rushing Off. | 97.2 (20) | 82.6 (27) |
| Passing Off. | 191.8 (24) | 274.8 (3) |
| Total Def. | 274.6 (4) | 338.8 (18) |
| Rushing Def. | 91.6 (8) | 112.4 (17) |
| Passing Def. | 183.0 (4) | 226.4 (18) |
| Turnover Margin | +3 (12) | +5 (8) |
| Penalties | 36 (3) | 33 (10) |
| Penalty Yards | 323 (1) | 271 (13) |
Current Injury Report:
Saints-
Juwan Johnson, TE, Questionable, Calf
Andrus Peat, G, Questionable, Concussion
Lonnie Johnson, CB, Questionable, Hamstring
Landon Young, T, Questionable, Hip
Cameron Jordan, DE, Questionable, Back
Jamaal Williams, RB, IR, Hamstring
Jake Haener, QB, Suspended
Texans-
Christian Harris, LB, Questionable, Concussion
Noah Brown, WR, Questionable, Groin
Laremy Tunsil, T, Questionable, Knee
Robert Woods, WR, Questionable, Ribs
Tank Dell, WR, Questionable, Concussion
Maliek Collins, DT, Questionable, Abdomen
Shaquill Griffin, CB, Questionable, Calf
Final Thoughts/Prediction:
The New Orleans Saints showed their true potential against a weaker opponent last week. Questions surround that performance about whether the Patriots are just that bad or if the Saints had a turnaround game. The Saints will look to build on it versus the Texans and continue their success, but a young and talented Houston squad won’t make life easy on them. Historically, Saints’ defenses have struggled with containing mobile quarterbacks, but I believe the 2023 edition is more disciplined than in years past. Although the Texans have a top-12 offense in the league, I don’t see that being enough to run past an elite New Orleans team. I liked what I saw against the Patriots, and I think the Saints will keep it rolling in Houston with a 27-13 victory.
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