Ahead of this week’s game against the New Orleans Saints, we caught up with John Sigler of the Saints Wire to discuss how their season has gone to date. We also discussed this upcoming matchup and why he believes the Raiders should be able to steal this game in New Orleans:
RW: Why are the Saints going with Andy Dalton over Jameis Winston?
SW: The offense has been more effective with Dalton, improving to 31 points per game after averaging 17 points per game with Winston, and that’s more impressive considering Dalton hasn’t had Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry available for most of his starts.
He’s also getting the ball to Alvin Kamara at a higher rate while taking fewer sacks and committing turnovers
RW: What’s been the biggest reason for the 2-5 start?
SW: Dennis Allen’s defense got older and less athletic this offseason, and we’re seeing those problems now with more miscommunications, more penalties, more missed tackles, and more blown assignments, especially in run defense. But injuries have hit them hard in the secondary, which was supposed to be the strength of the team.
Marcus Maye missed several games, and when he returned Marshon Lattimore went down. Alontae Taylor spent a month on injured reserve and was activated the same day that Bradley Roby was lost. Paulson Adebo hasn’t been able to stay on the field. It’s been a mess on the back end.
RW: How has Chris Olave looked during his rookie season?
SW: Olave has already surpassed the already-high expectations set for him. He’s off to the strongest start for a rookie receiver in New Orleans that I can remember, outproducing Michael Thomas and Marques Colston, and all of his peers in this draft class.
He gets open so easily you take it for granted, and he’s both a reliable target on third down and a big-play threat deep downfield. He’s the complete package.
RW: Who is an underrated player to watch in Week 8?
SW: Watch out for rookie cornerback Alontae Taylor. He held his own against DeAndre Hopkins and that strong Cardinals receiving corps last week in his first game back from an injury, and he’ll be starting again on Sunday.
Taylor has a long frame and uses it to play a really aggressive, physical brand of football. He might be their best available defensive back in this game.
RW: Who wins and why?
SW: I think the Raiders have an easier path to winning here. The Saints have so many key players on the injury report that they’re hoping to have enough warm bodies just to fill out the roster on game day.
Josh Jacobs should have a field day against their porous run defense and I fully expect him to victimize Tyrann Mathieu in the open field. It’s a bad matchup for this Saints team.
Raiders 24, Saints 20
