{"id":867079,"date":"2025-08-22T21:12:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T02:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/22\/key-matchups-saints-vs-broncos\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T21:12:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T02:12:12","slug":"key-matchups-saints-vs-broncos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/22\/key-matchups-saints-vs-broncos\/","title":{"rendered":"Key matchups: Saints vs. Broncos"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Football <\/p>\n<div id=\"zephr-anchor\">\n<p>The New Orleans Saints will take on the Denver Broncos to close out their preseason on Saturday. Both teams are slated to play starters for at least some time, marking the first sneak peek of New Orleans football in 2025. Saturday\u2019s game is critical to the Saints\u2019 future with a QB1 decision looming.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"saints-ol-vs-broncos-pass-rush\">\n<h2>Football Saints OL vs. Broncos pass rush<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/platform.canalstreetchronicles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1749484506.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0.0051867219916986,0,99.989626556017,100\" data-pswp-height=\"3213\" data-pswp-width=\"4819.5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img title=\"Football\" alt=\"Football NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 19: Cesar Ruiz #51 of the New Orleans Saints drops back to block with Erik McCoy #78 during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Caesars Superdome on October 19, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Perry Knotts\/Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\"   src=\"https:\/\/platform.canalstreetchronicles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1749484506.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0.0051867219916986%2C0%2C99.989626556017%2C100&#038;w=2400\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>This is the final chance for head coach Kellen Moore to evaluate his young quarterbacks in a real game situation before the start of the regular season. With such a significant decision ahead, the Saints must ensure they can evaluate each player fairly. Whichever quarterback started each preseason game over the last two weeks has seen plenty of pressure and has been unable to perform. While it is important to evaluate how each quarterback responds to an active pass rush, the offensive line has allowed too much pressure too quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Moore hasn\u2019t confirmed which starters will play, but this may be the first action we see of center Erik McCoy. The Pro Bowl center hasn\u2019t participated in the preseason as he managed his load to be prepared for the regular season. McCoy has been the best offensive lineman for the Saints in recent years, anchoring the interior. With McCoy\u2019s absence in the preseason, right guard Cesar Ruiz has struggled immensely.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately for the Saints\u2019 offensive line, they\u2019ll be facing the starting Broncos defense, which led the league in sacks in 2024. Denver hasn\u2019t allowed a team to score over 10 points in the preseason and will be facing a pair of young quarterbacks for New Orleans. With the pivotal decision looming, the Saints\u2019 offensive line has to bring its A-game.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"saints-cbs-vs-broncos-wrs\">\n<h2>Football Saints\u2019 CBs vs. Broncos\u2019 WRs<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/platform.canalstreetchronicles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2229953354.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,2.3751850356614,100,95.249629928677\" data-pswp-height=\"2359.3333333333335\" data-pswp-width=\"3539\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img title=\"Football\" alt=\"Football NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 17: Quincy Riley #29 of the New Orleans Saints tackles Austin Trammell #81 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of a preseason game at the Caesars Superdome on August 17, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle\/Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\"   src=\"https:\/\/platform.canalstreetchronicles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2229953354.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0%2C2.3751850356614%2C100%2C95.249629928677&#038;w=2400\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Saints know a lot about the depth in the Broncos\u2019 wide receiver room. New Orleans traded for second-year breakout wideout Devaughn Vele, who Denver was shopping around after the positive development of younger receivers. Outside of star Courtland Sutton, the Broncos have made it a point to add talent around their young quarterback in the draft, selecting Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin over the last three drafts.<\/p>\n<p>The depth at cornerback for the Saints is thin, and they may struggle to keep up with the Broncos\u2019 young playmakers. Kool-Aid McKinstry is projected to have a breakout year, but has yet to prove anything. Behind him are veteran Isaac Yiadom, rookie Quincy Riley, and second-year Rico Payton. While Riley and Payton have plenty of potential, each young defensive back has had their struggles in the preseason.<\/p>\n<p>Saturday\u2019s matchup will be another indicator of how prepared New Orleans is for the upcoming season. The Saints\u2019 defense has a ton of questions, not just with personnel, but also with scheme. If they struggle against the Broncos, they will likely continue that trend going into the regular season.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"kendre-miller-vs-broncos-defense\">\n<h2>Football Kendre Miller vs. Broncos\u2019 defense<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/platform.canalstreetchronicles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2229926217.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"4000\" data-pswp-width=\"6000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img title=\"Football\" alt=\"Football NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 17: Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saints hands the ball off to Kendre Miller #5 of the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 at against the Jacksonville Jaguars Caesars Superdome on August 17, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\"   src=\"https:\/\/platform.canalstreetchronicles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2229926217.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&#038;w=2400\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Despite his lack of stats, third-year running back Kendre Miller has been one of the biggest standouts during the preseason. Bad offensive line play has allowed defenders to meet Miller in the backfield on plenty of occasions, but the former third-round draft pick has been able to force his way out of what should be negative plays.<\/p>\n<p>Miller is the most talented running back on the roster, not named Alvin Kamara, and I feel confident saying that. Despite the immense amount of talent the third-year running back has, he has failed to remain healthy in his short career. While he has a new chance with a new coaching regime, he has to prove he can make an impact on the field.<\/p>\n<p>Miller should see a strong number of snaps behind the starting offensive line and will almost certainly see better protection behind Erik McCoy. It\u2019s been rumored that New Orleans is shopping around for running backs. Saturday\u2019s matchup behind a healthy starting offensive line is Miller\u2019s chance to prove his talent and take control of the RB2 job.<\/p>\n<p><span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.canalstreetchronicles.com\/new-orleans-saints-news\/98245\/key-matchups-saints-vs-broncos#comments\">3 Comments<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canalstreetchronicles.com\/new-orleans-saints-news\/98245\/key-matchups-saints-vs-broncos\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a> Kyle Besson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The New Orleans Saints will take on the Denver Broncos to close out their preseason on Saturday. Both teams are slated to play starters for at least some time, marking the first sneak peek of New Orleans football in 2025. Saturday\u2019s game is critical to the Saints\u2019 future with a QB1 decision looming. Saints OL<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":867080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3790,27656,23796],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-867079","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"category-matchups","9":"category-saints"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/867079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=867079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/867079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/867080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=867079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=867079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=867079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}