Saints 2023 Week 8 Preview

Jason Watson Jr • October 27, 2023

New Orleans visits Indianapolis Desperate for a Victory


The Saints are sitting in no-man’s-land at a dismal 3-4 record. After suffering a 31-24 loss at home in week seven versus the Jaguars, New Orleans will head back on the road as a matchup with Indianapolis approaches. The Colts share the same .429 winning percentage as the Saints and are coming off a 39-38 shootout loss against the Cleveland Browns.


The Matchup:

Derek Carr and the Saints’ offense continue to shoot themselves in the foot with miscommunication, mental mistakes, penalties, turnovers, and lack of effort on that side of the ball. While the defense has been the team's saving grace this season, allowing Jacksonville to put up 31 did not help that case at all. New Orleans will have their hands full in attempting to keep up with an Indy squad that is the only team in the NFL this season to score 20+ in every game. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew has been slinging it around this season with the Anthony Richardson injuries. He has maintained consistency and, at the very least, keeping the Colts competitive in close games. The game will be aired live on FOX from Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, October 29th, at noon CST.


Series History:

All-time, the Saints lead the Colts with a record of 9-5. The Saints have won the previous four contests since 2010, when New Orleans bested Peyton Manning and Indianapolis 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. With Sean Payton now in Denver and Drew Brees retired, it is time for more history forging between the two sides. New Orleans dominated in the most recent game, winning at home 34-7 in 2019.


Team Rankings Comparison:

Rank (Week 7) Saints Colts
Record 3-4 (3rd NFC South) 3-4 (3rd AFC South)
Scoring Avg. 19.0 (21) 25.4 (6)
Opp. Scoring Avg. 18.1 (7) 27.3 (30)
Total Off. 326.0 (17) 361.1 (10)
Rushing Off. 98.1 (22) 124.0 (9)
Passing Off. 227.9 (12) 237.1 (10)
Total Def. 285.7 (4) 351.3 (22)
Rushing Def. 98.7 (12) 118.7 (21)
Passing Def. 187.0 (4) 232.6 (19)
Turnover Margin +3 (11) -2 (20)
Penalties 46 (6) 48 (3)
Penalty Yards 440 (1) 356 (15)


Current Injury Report:


Saints-

Juwan Johnson, TE, Probable, Calf

Demario Davis, OLB, Probable, Knee

Ryan Ramczyk, T, Probable, Concussion

Landon Young, T, Questionable, Hip

James Hurst, G, Questionable, Ankle

Tyrann Mathieu, FS, Questionable, Foot

Marcus Maye, FS, Questionable, Hamstring

Taysom Hill, QB, Questionable, Chest

Alontae Taylor, CB, Questionable, Hip




Colts-

Julius Brents, CB, Doubtful, Quad

Kylen Granson, TE, Doubtful, Concussion

Zack Moss, RB, Questionable, Elbow/Heel

Braden Smith, T, Questionable, Hip/Wrist

Eric Johnson, DT, Questionable, Ankle



Final Thoughts/Prediction:

New Orleans needs to get rolling on what ought to be a very winnable four-game stretch starting in Indy. If they want any chance to salvage their season and maintain play for the NFC South divisional title, the winning culture has to be developed now. Although head coach Dennis Allen has reiterated to the media that no coaching or play-calling changes are currently happening, the leading veterans on the team understand change has to happen on the field in terms of playing efficient football. Do the Saints have what it takes to keep up with a quick-paced Colts offense? I don’t believe so. However, I think a stingy New Orleans defense will bounce back in a big way and hold Indianapolis under 20 for the first time this season. I’ll take the Saints to squeak out a 23-17 victory.


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Football player in red kicks as teammate kneels on field during game, crowd blurred in background
By Patrick Harkness August 20, 2026
K 
Jackson Courville- Ohio State 
He committed on January 12, 2026 (after entering the portal January 2) and is now on Tulane’s 2026 roster as a redshirt junior (#96, 5’10”, 185 lbs) from Centerville, OH (Centerville HS). 
Here’s why Courville aligns so well with the Green Wave program: 
• Proven Leg Strength and Clutch MAC Production
: In two seasons as Ball State’s starting kicker (2023-24), he went 26-of-34 on field goals (76.5%) and 54-of-56 on extra points. Highlights include a game-winning 52-yard FG as time expired vs. Northern Illinois (2024), his career long, plus multiple makes from 50+ yards. He was automatic inside 40 yards and showed the power and accuracy Tulane needs after the departure of standout Patrick Durkin. 
• P4 Experience and Fresh Start
: After battling for the job at Ohio State in 2025 (limited to just 4 XPs in one appearance), he brings valuable Big Ten reps and camp competition experience. Now at Tulane, he’s locked in a competitive spring battle with Cooper Helmke and Zach Marini. 
• Immediate Depth and Competition in a Reloading Unit
: Tulane aggressively addressed special teams via the portal after losing Durkin. Courville arrives as a high-upside veteran with two years of eligibility left, ready to compete for the starting job and provide reliable kicking depth right away. 
In short, Jackson Courville is a smart, high-character portal pickup who brings proven production, big-leg power, and built-in chemistry with the offense to a position group that needed reinforcements. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
Dagan Bruno football player in teal helmet, number 14, during action pose with name and stats graphic.
By Patrick Harkness August 20, 2026
Dagan Bruno: The Local Walk-On Made Some Noise in Tulane’s Quarterback Room during Spring Camp Dagan Bruno is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt sophomore quarterback wearing No. 14 for the Tulane Green Wave. A Preferred Walk-On from New Orleans and John Curtis Christian School, the hometown product has steadily transformed from scout-team specialist into a legitimate competitor in the quarterback room under head coach Will Hall. Bruno arrived at Tulane as a late addition to the 2024 class after a standout multi-sport career at John Curtis. As a junior in 2022, he helped lead the Patriots to a Division I Select state championship and was named the most outstanding player in the title game. In his senior season he completed over 72 percent of his passes for 1,504 yards with 13 touchdowns and just one interception while adding 527 rushing yards and eight scores. A true three-sport athlete who also excelled in basketball and baseball, Bruno maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. At Tulane he redshirted in 2024 and spent the bulk of his first two seasons running the scout-team offense, particularly the triple-option looks used by Army and Navy. His experience in John Curtis’s split-back veer made him uniquely valuable in preparing the defense. Playing time was limited, and the lack of consistent reps tested his confidence. Everything changed in spring 2026. Bruno forced his way into the conversation with accurate, decisive play. In the final spring scrimmage he went 5-of-5 for 69 yards, capping the day with a perfect 40-yard touchdown strike down the sideline to Antwaun Parham. Coach Will Hall was emphatic in his praise: “You can win with Dagan Bruno. This is not some feel-good story anymore… Dagan can play. I love his competitive spirit. He’s a tough guy, a winner and a leader.” Bruno has made it clear he wants to shed the “option quarterback” label. “A lot of people tried to push me into being the option quarterback guy,” he said. “I’m trying to break away from that a little bit and become a real quarterback that can go out there and throw the ball around, make the right checks and just do everything right.” Heading into fall camp and the 2026 season, Bruno sits in a competitive four-man race alongside Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, Kadin Semonza, and true freshman Trace Johnson. While the early days of camp have been a mixed bag for him after his strong spring, his accuracy, athleticism, toughness, and local knowledge continue to make him a valuable piece of the room. Whether he earns the starting job, serves as a key backup, or provides package plays, the John Curtis product has already proven he belongs. For a preferred walk-on who stayed home and kept working when the spotlight was elsewhere, Dagan Bruno’s rise is a classic New Orleans football story, one that Green Wave fans should watch closely. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
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