3 Saints who need to thrive in Week 3 vs the Eagles

The entire New Orleans Saints team has been thriving through the first two weeks of the season. That’s why they are a trendy team that everyone is talking about right now, after ignoring them all offseason. In just two games, New Orleans has quickly got everyone’s respect.

In Week 3, the Saints are hoping to keep that respect by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles. Philly is loaded with talent but they haven’t looked all that good this season, and will enter the game 1-1, after choking away what should’ve been a win on Monday Night Football in Week 2.

Still, Philly is a good football team, and the Saints will need some big performances to get their third straight win of the year.

3. Saints need Alvin Kamara to thrive against Eagles

After his four-touchdown, NFC Player of the Week performance against the Dallas Cowboys, everyone can see New Orleans’ high-scoring offense is built around Alvin Kamara. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said it would be, and the world now sees that.

That's great news for the matchup against Philadelphia, because they have been abysmal against the run. This season, after giving up 163 rushing yards to the Green Bay Packers and 152 rushing yards to the Atlanta Falcons, the Eagles are allowing a league-worst 6.4 yards per carry.

There will be lanes for Kamara to run and he needs to capitalize. Once he gets rolling, the rest of the offense will open up, and New Orleans should be able to put up a lot of points again.

2. Chris Olave needs to thrive against Eagles

Despite New Orleans’ offensive outburst to start the year, third-year receiver Chris Olave has been relatively quiet. He only has six receptions for 92 yards, but that’s because everyone on the offense has been eating. He may get his chance to really feast in Week 3.

Everyone in the NFL has been talking about Rashid Shaheed’s big-play ability, and best believe defenses don’t want to get added to the highlight reel. That means Philadelphia will try to take away Shaheed as a deep threat. That’ll open up room for Olave to make plays across the middle of the field.

1. Saints need Demario Davis (and co.) to thrive against Eagles

The one thing Philadelphia has been doing really well is running the football. Philly is currently averaging 165 rushing yards a game, at 4.4 yards a carry. Star running back Saquon Barkley has been the perfect acquisition, rushing for 109 yards in his Eagles debut, and following that up with a 95-yard performance in Week 2. Additionally, there’s always the threat of the QB run with Jalen Hurts.

That means Demario Davis and the other linebackers, as well as the defensive line, needs to be on their A game. The Saints have a group that can fly around and be physical, and that’s what needs to happen Sunday, against a group that will try to bully them.

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