Key Ingredients for Victory: Saints vs. Commanders

It will be an emotional homecoming game for Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who is making his first appearance for Washington since being traded from the Saints on Nov. 5. In eight seasons with New Orleans, Lattimore, the 2017 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, established himself as a Pro Bowl-level shutdown corner. But there’s no reason for the Saints, with a first-time starter at quarterback, to unduly challenge Lattimore. Force him to support the run, use his aggressiveness and emotion against him and hopefully set him up in the passing game.

Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, has been as impactful as any rookie quarterback in a long time. The Commanders, 4-13 last season, are very much in the playoff hunt. Daniels can throw (70 percent completion rate for 2,819 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions), run (590 yards and six touchdowns on 108 carries) and do enough of each to get Terry McLaurin receiver (61 catches for 896 yards and nine touchdowns ) and running back Brian Robinson (138 carries for 640 yards and eight touchdowns) even more effective.

New Orleans allows 134 rushing yards per game, 25th^th in the league. Washington is averaging 157 rushing yards per game. game, third most in the league. The Saints have had season-long problems with consistency with gap integrity on defense against the run, and this is not a team where New Orleans can afford to be inconsistent. The line has to do its job, linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner have to do theirs, safety Tyrann Mathieu and the secondary have to do theirs, and together they have to make the Commanders one-dimensional. Put the game in Daniel’s hands and try to influence his decision making.