Both teams enter Week 6 matchup riding emotional highs.
The New Orleans Saints finally broke through last week with a dominant defensive showing, forcing five turnovers against the New York Giants and securing their first win of the season. The New England Patriots, meanwhile, stunned the football world by handing the undefeated Buffalo Bills their first loss of the season.
Momentum is high on both sidelines, but only one team will sustain it. Will it be the Saints?
For New Orleans, this game will come down to discipline, balance, and controlling the flow from start to finish.
Here are the three keys to victory for the Saints.
1. Win the Turnover Battle & Control Field Position
The Saints’ defensive identity is built around chaos. Stripping the ball, jumping routes, and forcing quarterbacks into mistakes. That HAS to continue.
Winning the turnover margin doesn’t just steal possessions, it gives the offense short fields and confidence. Protecting the football is non-negotiable.
New England thrives on capitalizing off miscues, so clean execution will be crucial.
Everything starts with taking care of the football. When the Saints protect it, they’re capable of controlling games. When they give it away, their rhythm collapses.
Defensively, this group thrives on takeaways: five last week set the tone early and gave the offense short fields. That formula travels.
New Orleans must stay opportunistic on defense, force errant throws through pressure, and make the Patriots pay for mistakes.
On special teams, clean execution, limiting return yardage, and smart punting can tilt field position in their favor, keeping New England backed up and out of rhythm.
2. Disrupt the Patriots’ Offense With Pressure and Discipline
New England’s offense found life last week behind smart play calling and solid execution, but they haven’t faced a front like the Saints’ front. And the Patriots’ offense falters when they’re uncomfortable, so that’s exactly where the Saints need to keep them.
New Orleans needs to keep that energy up front, collapsing the pocket and forcing hurried decisions. Generating interior pressure, disguised blitzes and changing coverage looks can lure the Patriots into turnovers and throw off timing and decision-making.
The key is organized aggression. Play fast, but stay assignment-sound. The secondary can’t afford mental lapses.
If the Saints’ pass rush dictates the pace and the secondary limits big plays, the Patriots’ offense will sputter under pressure.
Keeping everything in front and tackling cleanly will force New England to string together long, mistake-free drives.
And if the Saints’ front seven sets the tone and the coverage unit holds firm, New England’s margin for error disappears quickly.
3. Stay Balanced and Dictate Tempo
New Orleans can’t become predictable.
The Saints can’t rely solely on the passing game. Establishing the run early opens up everything else from play-action to keeping the Patriots' defense guessing.
A steady ground attack keeps the defense honest and sets up play-action opportunities for chunk gains downfield. Mixing tempo will be key. Slowing the game down to control possession, then using quick rhythm drives to exploit mismatches will keep the Patriots on their heels and maximizes the Saints’ playmakers. Same with controlling the clock when needed, then striking quickly when mismatches appear.
This offense is at its best when it’s unpredictable. Shifting formations, keeping defenses guessing, and feeding off energy plays that swing momentum in the Superdome’s favor.
This matchup will test New Orleans’ consistency more than its ceiling. It's not about proving they can dominate, but showing they can sustain it. Execute these three keys, and the Saints should walk away with back-to-back wins and a firm reminder to the league that they’re still a team to take seriously.