EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints began their seasons on a positive note with victories in their opening two games. However, as they get set to clash this Sunday, both teams find themselves in a slump. The Chargers, currently holding a record of 3-3, have lost three out of their last four matchups, including a narrow 17-15 defeat against Arizona on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Saints are trying to avoid their first six-game losing streak since 2005, sitting at 2-5 on the season.
In their inaugural season under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have shown competitiveness across all six games but have struggled in the latter halves of matchups, being outscored 55-34 after halftime. Notably, they have failed to score a single touchdown in the fourth quarter during their last five games. Quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw for a season-high 349 yards in the recent loss to the Cardinals, expressed optimism about the team’s potential for improvement: “There’s a lot of things we can correct and clean up, but there’s a lot to look forward to as a whole.” To keep their playoff hopes alive, the Chargers need to capitalize on the next three weeks, facing the Saints first, followed by an away game against Cleveland and then a home matchup against Tennessee on November 10.
The Saints had a strong offensive outing at the start of the season, scoring 91 points in their first two games, but have since struggled, managing only 86 points over their past five contests. Injuries have also plagued the team, with quarterback Derek Carr uncertain for this week’s game due to an oblique injury suffered in Week 5. Coach Dennis Allen hinted at the likelihood of rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler starting, but has not completely ruled out Carr, who has a history of playing even after limited practice.
After going through a demanding schedule that included three games in just 11 days, followed by a hefty 33-10 loss to Denver two weeks ago, the Saints are finally getting some much-needed rest. They are hoping for the return of several players dealing with injuries. Running back Alvin Kamara expressed the team’s frustration with their losing streak, saying, “I think we’ve got a lot of talent… It doesn’t feel good losing five in a row and we got to flip it around.”
On the injury front, several key players recently resumed practice. Guard Cesar Ruiz, tight end Taysom Hill, wide receiver Chris Olave, and linebacker Pete Werner are all back on the field. Ruiz has been sidelined for four games due to a knee injury, while Hill has missed time since suffering a rib injury in Week 4. Olave has been recovering from a concussion, and Werner has been out with a hamstring injury.
When it comes to defense, the Chargers are ranked ninth in the league for run defense, allowing an average of 111.2 yards per game. However, they allowed 181 yards against Arizona last week, highlighting issues with missed tackles that defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is keen on correcting. He stressed the need for better angles and tackling techniques, especially when facing a versatile threat like Kamara, who has compiled 438 rushing yards and leads all running backs in receptions (34) and is second in receiving yards (252). Minter noted the challenge of containing Kamara, who possesses an excellent ability to find gaps and make decisive cuts.
Questions about Kamara’s future with the Saints were recently settled when he signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract extension that lasts through the 2026 season. Kamara had previously made his dissatisfaction with his old contract known but remained committed to the Saints amid trade rumors. He emphasized his loyalty to the city and organization, stating, “I don’t feel like I would get the same feeling that I get putting on the fleur de lis anywhere else.”
In the passing game, Herbert has displayed strong distribution skills, connecting with nine different receivers over the last two games. However, dropped passes have become a significant issue for the Chargers, with five drops against the Cardinals and nine over the past three games. A fumble by Jalen Reagor at the Arizona 3-yard line further compounded their issues. Although Harbaugh did not pinpoint the exact reasons for the drops, he mentioned that ball security has been emphasized in practice this week.