Interim Saints coach Darren Rizzi was flinging game balls in the locker room following his first win last week, which broke a 7-game losing streak. (New Orleans Saints)
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Browns v. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 1 p.m., in Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Record: 3-7.
Last game: Defeated Atlanta Falcons, 20-17, November 10, in New Orleans.
Coach: Darren Rizzi, 1-0, first year.
Series record: Browns lead, 13-6.
Last meeting: Saints won, 17-10, December 24, 2022, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 16th overall (13th rushing, 16th passing), defense is 28th overall (27th rushing, 29th passing) and turnover differential is plus-4.
Things to watch
1. After seven straight losses, the Saints received the “interim coach bump” when special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi took over for fired head coach Dennis Allen and managed them over division rival Atlanta. Rizzi is a Bill Parcells disciple who brought a much-needed energy to the practice week and game day. He modified some cosmetic things, such as locker room assignments and structure and pace of practice. He flipped practice fields to get his team out of a losing routine. The question now is if the new energy can be sustained.
2. First-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, son of Gary Kubiak, started off with 91 points in wins in the first two games against Carolina and Dallas. Over the next seven games, however, the offense averaged 16.5 points. Injuries were the biggest reason. Quarterback Derek Carr, receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and all three interior offensive linemen missed multiple games. Olave and Shaheed are still out, but Carr returned for the last two games and center Erik McCoy could be back this week.
3. Kubiak’s offense resembles that of vintage Kevin Stefanski. Running back Alvin Kamara sets up a play-action passing game that has been reduced mostly to multiple tight ends, including Taysom Hill, and Kamara, because of the receiver injuries. The top two receivers now are Packers and Chiefs retread Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Cedrick Wilson.
4. Allen’s defensive system remains, but ex-Browns DC Joe Woods has taken over play-calling and Rizzi changed defensive line coaches. One result was more play time for defensive lineman Cameron Jordan, who, at 35, is playing out a legendary career. He played a season-high 42 snaps v. the Falcons and had his first sack of the season.
5. The Saints are down three of their top four cornerbacks – Marshon Lattimore, who was traded to Washington, Paulson Adebo (IR) and the redoubtable Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring).
Did you know … ?
1. Running back Alvin Kamara is the Saints’ leading rusher (715 yards, 6 TD) and receiver (51 catches, 421 yards, 1 TD).
2. The Saints’ 12 interceptions rank fourth behind the Vikings (15), Detroit (13) and Houston (13).
3. The Saints joined the Browns, Panthers and Falcons in pursuit of Deshaun Watson in 2022.The entire front office and coaching staff met with him two times. When rejected by Watson, they turned back to former backup Jameis Winston and re-signed him to a two-year contract.
3. The Saints have been kicking salary cap charges down the road longer than any team. As such, they currently have the worst cap situation of any team in 2025. They are more than $63 million over the projected salary cap of $272.5 million with players currently under contract for 2025. The Browns are next-worst at $10.9 million over the cap.
4. When Derek Carr reaches the third year of his four-year $150 million in contract in 2025, he will effectively be guaranteed $50 million if on the roster in March.
Small world: Defensive coordinator Joe Woods held the same position with the Browns 2020-22 … Senior defensive advisor Todd Grantham was Browns defensive coordinator 2005-07 … Linebacker DeMario Davis played for the Browns in 2016.