The battered New Orleans Saints will take the field in Week 16. The Saints are 4-10 and host the 3-11 New York Jets. The Saints are looking to win three straight games in 48 games for the first time since the end of the 2022 season. The Jets, meanwhile, are coming off a two-game losing streak, 82-30, and have lost four of their past five games.
New Orleans enters Week 16 with the 26th-ranked offense overall, but has made huge improvements led by rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. However, this was a defeated unit, with only a third column and practice squad members at certain positions remaining. This is especially concerning for a running game that isn’t productive even when healthy. The Saints faced off against a Jets defense that ranked 20th overall but was especially bad against the run. We now preview these areas where each department is struggling.
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Jet aircraft running defense
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137.2 yards per game (29th)
New York allowed four 100-yard rushers and nine other rushers to gain at least 60 yards against the defense. Four different opponents have given up over 180 yards to the Jets on the ground. They’ve held less than 100 yards four times but have been pushed around at the line of scrimmage.
Will McDonald IV and Jermaine Jackson are undersized and better suited to rushing passers. Tackles Jay Tufele, Harrison Phillips and Mads Smith all have prototype size but are rarely capable of controlling the middle. Phillips led all linebackers with 46 tackles, but the team’s penetration against the rush was very low.
At linebacker, the Jets have an underrated group that has been overlooked due to poor linebacker performance. Jamien Sherwood led the team with 129 tackles, including six for loss. Despite his small stature, Sherwood has good instincts, anticipation and the athleticism to make plays on the perimeter. Quincy Williams has been one of New York’s top defenders over the past few years. He missed some time due to injury in 2025 but still had eight tackles for loss in 63 total tackles.
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In the secondary, the Jets missed a lot of tackles, leading to big runs. Safety Malachi Moore ranks second on the team with 76 tackles and has been a solid presence near the line of scrimmage. Cornerback Brandon Stephens is a willing run defender, but with the rest of the team being depleted by injuries, that’s not a factor against the run.
saints running game
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93.4 yards per game (27th)
Alvin Kamara will miss his fourth straight game with knee and ankle issues. Kendre Miller is out for the season. Promising rookie Devin Neal was placed on injured reserve this week with a hamstring injury. They are the team’s top three rushers, with quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough ranking fourth and fifth, respectively.
Recently added free agents Odrick Estime and Evan Hull are expected to share the bulk of the backcourt duties Sunday. Since signing, Hull has been the most efficient interior runner with 10 carries for 31 yards in three games. Estime is slightly more explosive, with 22 yards on six attempts in the last two games. Taysom Hill could also see more touches as a runner. Hill rushed for just 72 yards and 1.9 yards per carry, but he’s a physical player who can break tackles.
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Frankly, it didn’t matter who was running the ball for New Orleans because the interior of this offensive line wasn’t pushed away from the goal line. Defender Cesar Ruiz will miss the game due to injury, which is not necessarily a bad thing. As bad as Ruiz was, left guard Dillon Radonz and center Luke Fortner weren’t much better. Tackle Talise Fuaga and rookie Kelvin Banks are both formidable run blockers, but coach Kellen Moore doesn’t typically call outside run plays. In addition, the inside blocking ability is too poor to develop offense outside the tackle.
Even if the Jets are as bad as they are, it’s hard to imagine the Saints being able to rely on the running game. Maybe Estime or Hull are effective, but it would be foolish for a fantasy owner to consider using either. This game will be decided by Tyler Shough, but don’t be surprised to see the rookie quarterback make some plays with his legs.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Beaten Saints running game faces incompetent Jets run defense