New Orleans Saints vs Arizona Cardinals 2025 Week 1 Preview

Caleb Yaccarino • September 6, 2025

The NFL Regular season is here, and so is the new era of New Orleans Saints football. Led by new head coach Kellen Moore, the Saints host the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 1 matchup that both teams need to take advantage of.

What the Cardinals bring to the table

As this is the first game for both teams this season, we may not see the full potential of each squad, but we can pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of the Cardinals on paper. Starting with the strengths that may make the Saints' lives difficult on Sunday, we need to talk about Kyler Murray. The 7th-year QB is a dynamic runner who could take over games with just his speed. Being able to stop Murray from running for positive yards is one thing, but also trying to contain him and not extend plays is nearly impossible, and with edge rusher Chase Young ruled out, the Saints are going to have a real challenge on Sunday. On the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals have made significant improvements to their defensive line, and this will be a good first test for the Saints' newly constructed defensive line. Josh Sweat is the main name to point out, and if New Orleans can not deal with him, he could disrupt any offensive plan Kellen Moore has.


These are two strengths that jump out, but the Cardinals also have some weaknesses that the Saints can take advantage of. Like with New Orleans, Arizona has a very young/inexperienced cornerback room. The run game is going to be a focal point of the Saints' offense, but if that slows down or the Saints are behind early, starting QB Spencer Rattler could take advantage of the Cardinals' cornerbacks. The other main weakness is the offensive line. Last season, led by OL coach Klayton Adams, the offensive line overperformed and was a solid group throughout the season. Now, with him leaving for the Dallas Cowboys, this group could take a step back, and even without Chase Young, the Saints can still disrupt the game through the defensive line.

How about the Saints?

I mentioned before in the intro that this is a new era of Saints football. With an entirely new coaching staff and new players throughout the roster, there is way too much uncertainty to really feel comfortable about this game. Besides the WR room led by Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, the safety room led by Justin Reid, and the Center position with Eric McCoy, every other spot on the roster is going to be tested this Sunday. The primary position of focus for everyone is at quarterback, with all eyes on second-year QB Spencer Rattler. After beating out second-round rookie Tyler Shough in a heated QB battle, Rattler was named the starter and overcame the odds. Kellen Moore has stated multiple times before the decision was made that the team would rally behind whoever he and his staff decided to name the starter. This is the case.... for now. QB Tyler Shough is Kellen Moore's "guy," and he will be ready to come in if need be. Will that happen this game? I highly doubt it, but the Saints' coaching staff will evaluate Rattler's performances each week and consider putting in Shough if the team starts to lose. This is just one of the outcomes, and Spencer Rattler can still secure the long-term starting QB spot,. However, against the Cardinals, the pressure will be on Rattler to perform.

Injury Report

  • EDGE Chase Young - OUT
  • G Trevor Penning - OUT
  • S Jordan Howden - Questionable

My Prediction

Even after mentioning all the uncertainty with the Saints in this game, especially at QB, I think New Orleans will win this game 20-17, with Blake Grupe hitting a game-winning field goal.

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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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