Saints Morning Break: Saints expecting raucous crowd in game against Philadelphia Eagles

A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Friday, Sept. 20

Can you feel it? Saints fever has swept across New Orleans. The team’s scintillating 2-0 start has energized the city and rallied the citizenry. What few skeptics remained after the season-opening rout of Carolina disappeared entirely after the 44-19 dismantling of Dallas in Week 2.

Jalen Hurts was already a pain for opposing defenses. And that was before the Philadelphia Eagles signed Saquon Barkley. By adding the star running back into the mix, the Eagles have a true pick-your-poison backfield. Sell out to stop Barkley? Hurts can keep the ball and punish teams with his legs. Overcommit to the quarterback? Good luck giving Barkley plenty of space.

Derek Carr’s wallet has been hit by a smooth criminal. The NFL issued a $14,000 fine to the New Orleans Saints quarterback for grabbing his crotch during a Michael Jackson-themed touchdown celebration in last weekend’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, according to a report from Pro Football Talk.

No reminders are necessary. The New Orleans Saints have game film from the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and are aware of what happened against Philadelphia. Specifically, they know the damage caused by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in 24-21 (in 2020) and 40-29 (in ’21) Philadelphia victories.

It’s not that New Orleans Saints fans have been tepid in their vocal support of the team during home games over the previous three seasons. There have been times when the Caesars Superdome has been as loud as some of the fondest recollections. But the fact that the Saints went 3-5 (in 2021), 4-5 (in ’22) and 5-3 (in ’23) in home games over those three seasons didn’t give fans a whole lot to hold on to.

Twelve New Orleans Saints players were listed on Thursday’s Injury Report for the team’s Week 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2024 NFL season.