Snap Counts From Saints Week 2 Win, and What They Mean

Sports admin September 22, 2026 0 Comments

Snap Counts From Saints Week 2 Win, and What They Mean

New Orleans Saints pulled off a road win while not dominating the box score. The Ravens actually finished with 312 total yards to the Saints’ 298, yet the Saints owned the most important stretch of the game. They erased a 14-6 halftime deficit, scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and finished the comeback with a 24-17 win at M&T Bank Stadium.

Tyler Shough delivered for his team when the game was on the line. Chris Olave caught eight passes for 86 yards and the game-tying touchdown, while Juwan Johnson and Devaughn Vele also made key contributions. On the other side, Rashod Bateman and Derrick Henry were Baltimore’s most productive offensive players, with Bateman catching seven passes for 88 yards and a touchdown and Henry rushing for 68 yards and a score.

The snap count numbers show how New Orleans mixed its defensive front, with several players receiving meaningful workloads. That rotation became important as the Saints turned up the pressure on Lamar Jackson late.

Offensive Snap Count Takeaways

The Saints ran 68 offensive plays, and Tyler Shough played all 68. So did Cesar Ruiz, David Edwards, Taliese Fuaga and Erik McCoy. The full-time workload for Shough was hardly surprising, but what he did with those snaps is the bigger story.

Shough completed 27 of 34 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown, while adding 23 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. His best work came late. He went 12-for-14 for 119 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. The final drive was the defining moment.

Devaughn Vele led all Saints wide receivers with 65 snaps (96%), followed by Chris Olave with 57 (84%) and Bryce Lance with 54 (79%). The rest of the receiver group had much smaller roles. Kevin Austin Jr. played five snaps (7%), while Barion Brown played two (3%).

Travis Etienne played 37 snaps (54%), while CJ Donaldson and Alvin Kamara each played 20 snaps (29%). Etienne received the largest workload and finished with eight carries for 25 yards and two catches for six yards. He also handled the successful two-point conversion that tied the game at 17.

Juwan Johnson played 36 snaps (53%), followed by Noah Fant at 30 (44%), Asim Richards at 28 (41%), Oscar Delp at nine (13%) and Treyton Welch at five (7%).

Defensive Snap Count Takeaways

Four defenders Kaden Ellis, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon played all the 58 defensive snaps. Elliss finished with six tackles, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits. McKinstry and Blackmon each added a pass breakup, while Blackmon made the biggest play of the night by intercepting Lamar Jackson with 20 seconds left.

Pete Werner played 54 snaps (93%), second only to the four players who never left the field.

Carl Granderson, Nathan Shepherd and Chase Young each played 39 snaps (67%). Behind them came Vernon Broughton with 33 (57%), Cameron Jordan with 29 (50%), Davon Godchaux with 23 (40%), Khristian Boyd with 20 (34%), Anfernee Jennings with 17 (29%) and Colby Wooden with 16 (28%). Young was the headline performer, recording 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss, repeatedly putting pressure on Jackson.

The Saints’ defense saved its best football for the fourth quarter. Baltimore led 17-9 entering the fourth quarter. From there, New Orleans’ defense helped flip the game. The Saints forced a punt after the Ravens reached their own side of the field, and the offense then produced the tying touchdown.

This story was originally published September 22, 2026 at 2:20 AM.