The New Orleans Saints are one of, scratch that, the worst team at starting games in the league offensively. Luckily for them, the Browns are equally as inept at starting games defensively. However, they do get much more stout after the first 15 minutes, so Tyler Shough, Kellen Moore and the Saints offense have to be on point in the first quarter.
The inability to generate, not just consistent but, any offense in the first quarter has been a frustratingly consistent part of the Saints' DNA this year. They've scored once in the first quarter, a touchdown and missed the extra point versus the Raiders. Luckily for the Saints, this is an opportunity to fix that flaw, even if it's just for a week.
The Saints have the worst first quarter scoring offense, and the Browns have the worst first quarter scoring defense. Something has to break, and if the Saints are the ones who are able to break their trend it could break the game open for New Orleans.
Scoring in the first quarter is Saints' key to victory
Cleveland has allowed 66 points in the first quarter, an average of 8.25 points per game. We're going to watch a matchup between a team that struggles to score a touchdown in the first 15 minutes vs one that gives up an average of a touchdown in that same timeframe.
The Browns allow 21.6 points per game, which is 13th best in the league. The stats suggest they adjust well after the first quarter. That used to be the blueprint on the Saints offense as well, but they'll have to earn that reputation back.
Cleveland has a solid defense overall, so the Saints will have to take advantage of them at their most vulnerable. Breaking the trend of slow starts is the key for both sides, but it's more valuable for the Saints. They have struggled to get anything going recently, so generating momentum early is vial, especially when it'll be hard to create late.
The other part is that the Browns have the second worst scoring offense in the first quarter. Not much better than the Saints, the Browns have scored 13 points in the first quarter this year. That was with Deshaun Watson at quarterback. It's set up for the Browns to go scoreless in the first quarter again, and the struggles could continue beyond just the first quarter.
Cleveland hasn't been a below average offense, and it'll be interesting to see how a quarterback change impacts it. If the Saints are able to put up points early, it'll put more pressure on the Browns to have to put up points and provides a cushion if Saints offense finds more resistance later in the game.
Add us as a preferred source on Google