Chiefs at Saints –Week 3
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans (turf, indoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Saints by 9
Records: Saints (Overall: 0-2, NFC South 0-1); Chiefs (Overall: 0-2, AFC West 0-1)
Past Results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 16, 2008: Saints 30, Chiefs 20; Nov. 14, 2004: Saints 27, Chiefs 20. Series record: Saints lead 5-4 and have split four meetings with the Chiefs in the Superdome.
What matters: Defensive improvement. The Saints have been dreadful defensively in the first two weeks, blaming most of their problems on the unconventional, zone-read offenses of Washington and Carolina. That excuse is not available against conventional Kansas City. Still, the assignment is not easy. The Chiefs lead the AFC in yards, and although they did most of their damage against Buffalo last week after falling behind 35-3, they had drives of 54, 58, 59 and 80 yards against Atlanta in Week 1 when the outcome was still in doubt. The New Orleans DBs, with zero interceptions and four deflections in two weeks, have to be more alert. The linebackers can’t get out of their gaps, leading to big gains on the ground. The front four can’t get knocked off the ball and must mount a pass rush after holding back in an attempt to prevent QBs Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton from running the past two weeks.
Who matters: Starting safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper. Their interception-less streak is reaching absurd proportions. Harper’s last interception came in Week 2 of 2010 against San Francisco. Jenkins’ last interception came against St. Louis in Week 14 of 2010, when he had two. Since then, Jenkins has played 23 consecutive games without a pick, and Harper has gone 35 games without one. Two of Kansas City QB Matt Cassel ’s three interceptions this year have gone to safeties. The Saints need turnovers desperately after forcing just one in two games. It is time for Jenkins and Harper to make plays.
Key Matchups: Saints RBs versus KC front 7. With WR Marques Colston hobbled by a foot injury and WR Devery Henderson coming off a concussion, the Saints are not getting many long plays in the passing game. They need to run on the Chiefs, who rank fifth from the bottom in the NFL in yards rushing allowed (142.5) and sixth-to-last in average per carry allowed (4.8). Pierre Thomas gained 110 yards on nine carries against Carolina. The Saints would be wise to give the ball to him more often and also hand the ball off to Darren Sproles, who mystifyingly has not gotten a carry after averaging 6.9 yards per attempt last year. If they have success on the ground, QB Drew Brees will have his way with the Chiefs and keep his own struggling defense on the sideline. Saints DE Will Smith vs. Chiefs LT Branden Albert . Smith is the Saints best pass rusher. Albert is one of the better pass protectors in the league. After a pair of frustrating games, Smith will be free to get after Cassel. But can he beat Albert?
Injuries of note: DE Turk McBride (sprained ankle) is out. Colston (foot) and LB Jonathan Casillas (left knee) are questionable. Brees (ankle), Harper (wrist), CB Johnny Patrick (thigh) and Henderson are listed as probable but will play.
Inside stuff: The Saints are the only team that has been bothered by the zone-read offenses of Carolina and Washington thus far. Carolina rushed for 10 yards in an opening 16-10 loss to Tampa Bay, and QB Cam Newton threw three interceptions in a 36-7 loss to the New York Giants on Thursday night. After scoring 40 points on New Orleans, Washington lost to St. Louis, which went 2-14 last season. The bottom line: Carolina and Washington are 2-0 vs. the Saints and 0-3 vs. everyone else.
Connections: Chiefs LB coach Gary Gibbs was the Saints defensive coordinator from 2006 to 2008 before getting fired and replaced by Gregg Williams. Saints RB Mark Ingram and Chiefs CB Javier Arenas were teammates at Alabama in 2008-09.
Stat you should know: After the Saints lost their first two games, everyone reported the stat that only 12 percent of NFL teams have reaches the playoffs following an 0-2 start. It is much rarer for 0-3 teams to qualify for the postseason. Only three have done it since 1990 (San Diego ’92, Detroit ’95, Buffalo ’98), and none in the last 13 years.
Record watch: The Saints have given up 922 yards through two games, an average of 461. Since the NFL went to a 16-game season in 1978, the most yards the Saints allowed per game were 388.6 in 1980, when they went 1-15.
Bulletin board quote: “It’s a little bit like a sigh of relief. Our defense will be better this week facing an offense where they do normal stuff.” –Casillas on facing the Chiefs, who lead in the AFC in yards per game.
Looking ahead: The Saints travel to Green Bay for an incredibly difficult game. The Chiefs play host to the Chargers in a divisional game they must win to have any realistic hopes of contending for a playoff spot.
Prediction: Saints 31, Chiefs 27
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.