When analysts reveal their predictions for the New Orleans Saints' Week 2 clash against the San Francisco 49ers, one thing they should keep in mind is the 49ers' success rate without George Kittle. If recent trends continue, Kittle missing this week’s game means the Saints will win.
Kittle suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 versus the Seattle Seahawks. After the game, the tight end was placed on injured reserve, so he's guaranteed to be out for the next four games. That's one less player the Saints have to gameplan for. Deeper than that, Kittle's absence has been the 49ers' kryptonite in recent years.
Since 2019, San Francisco has been a measly 6-12 when Kittle isn't in the lineup. It gets even worse if you make the timeline more recent. Kittle has missed three games since 2023, and the 49ers walked away from each of those games on the losing end. Not only is Kittle a star, his presence has greatly impacted the 49ers' success. That's great news the Saints when facing the Kittle-less 49ers.
Saints chances of defeating the 49ers jump without George Kittle
The reason 2023 is an important start date for establishing a timeline is because that's when Brock Purdy took over as the full time starting quarterback. He has done some good things, but Purdy has yet to win a game where he didn't have George Kittle.
To make matters worse, Kyle Shannahan said it’s looking like a "long shot" that Purdy will play. That means the Saints will play the 49ers without their star tight end or their starting quarterback. Hey Mac Jones.
When evaluating the schedule at the beginning of the season, no one thought the Saints stood a chance. However, the 49ers are significantly more hampered than expected. It’s only one game into the season, but the 49ers find themselves quickly decimated by injuries.
Even with the injuries, the Saints will have to limit Christian McCaffrey. He's already the focal point of the offense, but there will be a heavier burden on the running game with limitations on the passing attack.