A season that started with heightened expectations for the New Orleans Saints is rapidly crumbling into disaster. Entering their Week 6 at the New York Giants, the Saints are 1-4 and losers of three straight, all at home in the Superdome. Much of the reason for their struggles is a defense that's ranked among the worst in the NFL. After five outings, here's where this defense ranks compared to the rest of the league.
New Orleans Saints Total Defense
- 30.2 points per game (31st)
- 361 yards per game (25th)
- 5 turnovers (22nd)
- 111 first downs (29th)
- 48.3% third down efficiency (29th)
- 63.6% red-zone percentage (20th)
Pass Defense
- 212.2 yards per game (11th)
- 70.6% completion percentage
- 8 touchdowns (19th)
- 1 interception (28th)
- 10 sacks
- 25 QB hits
Run Defense
- 148.8 yards per game (30th)
- 4.9 per carry (29th)
- 10 touchdowns (32nd)
- 19 tackles for loss
In no way does this even closely resemble the Brandon Staley defense that in 2025 ranked ninth overall and fourth against the pass. On the ground, the Saints have given up an appalling 5 yards per attempt to opposing backs and over 150 rushing yards in three contests this season. Eight different players have managed over 50 yards rushing when playing New Orleans, with three backs gaining over 100. It would undoubtedly have been four, if Baltimore had not gone away from Derrick Henry in the second half of their Week 2 game.
Against the pass, the Saints have allowed a ludicrous completion percentage of nearly 71% to opposing quarterbacks. They've made average passers like Kyler Murray, Michael Penix, and Kirk Cousins look like perennial Pro Bowlers. A ridiculous cushion to opposing receivers has let opponents play an easy game of pitch-and-catch against New Orleans coverage. The helplessness against opposing tight ends has been astounding.
Edge rusher Chase Young has been the only consistent standout on the defense. Young has 4 of the team's 10 sacks with 7 pressures and 3 tackles for loss. Carl Granderson finally came to life against Minnesota with 1.5 sacks, giving him 2.5 on the year. If Granderson can continue that play and veteran legend Cameron Jordan can show he has some left in the tank, then the Saints might at least have a solid pass rush to put up some fight. Jordan, a likely Hall of Famer, has shown little so far in his 16th season, allowing opponents to consistently throw double and triple team blocking on Young.
Linebackers Kaden Elliss has hurt the defense by missing two games with a calf injury. Without him, linebackers Pete Werner and Danny Stutsman have provided little resistance against the run and have been liabilities in coverage. Brandon Staley's refusal to use an athletic Isaiah Stalbird in at least obvious passing situations is preposterous. Elliss, Werner, and Stutsman have not been helped by an awful New Orleans defensive line. Vernon Broughton and Nathan Shepherd have flashed some disruption but not nearly enough. Behind them, outside of possibly rookie defensive tackle Christen Miller, this line has been pathetic against the run and absolutely no help as pass rushers.
A young secondary that showed tons of promise in 2025 has regressed badly through their five outings in 2026. This is partially because of the passive scheme, but also their own performance. If Elliss hasn't been the defense's second best player, then cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is, but McKinstry has been inconsistent. On the other side, Quincy Riley hasn't shown much because of a constant mind-boggling cushion. These defensive backs have broken up only 7 passes collectively, with McKinstry responsible for 4 of those. Neither Jonas Sanker or Martin Emerson have been the answer in the slot, with safeties Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon making no plays on the back end.
For this defense to rebound in even a small way, they must toughen up against the run to even slow opponents. Given the performance of a woefully thin defensive line, this seems like a tough ask, though better overall play from the linebacker unit would help. The pass defense feels like a more realistic solution. New Orleans has the potential pass rush, but Staley must alter his scheme in the secondary to challenge receivers more often and at least take away easy completions. This should allow Young and the pass rushers at least a realistic chance to create some disruption.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints defense toiling among the NFL's worst units through 5 games