Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints: Full New Orleans Game Preview

The New Orleans Saints will close out their home schedule Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

New Orleans (5-9) is coming off a 35-27 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.

The Saints turned in yet another horrendous defensive performance in the first half, and they fell behind 28-3 in the third quarter before quarterback Drew Brees and the offense came to life. New Orleans stormed back to make a game of it, but head coach Sean Payton’s squad came up short in the end.

This week, the Saints turn their attention to the Jaguars, and they’ll be looking to avoid their first 10-loss season since 2005.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville (5-9) is attempting to rebound from a 23-17 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Head coach Gus Bradley’s club got off to 1-5 start this season, but the young squad has made some improvements and earned a 4-4 split over its last eight games.

The Saints’ No. 30-ranked pass defense will have its hands full with Jaguars signal-caller Blake Bortles, who’s thrown for at least 250 yards in each of his last four games.

Continue reading for a preview of this Week 16 matchup, which kicks off at 4:05 p.m. ET/3:05 CT on CBS.

Saints-Jaguars Series

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The Saints don’t have much of a history with the Jaguars, which is understandable given that Jacksonville has only had a franchise since 1995 and plays in the AFC. New Orleans holds a 3-2 advantage in the series, and it sports a 2-0 mark against the Jaguars in the Superdome.

The teams first met in 1996, when coach Jim Mora’s Saints defeated Tom Coughlin’s Jaguars, 17-13, in the first game of a two-game homestand for New Orleans. Mora would resign as New Orleans’ all-time winningest coach just two weeks later.

Jacksonville posted two straight victories over the Saints in 1999 and 2003, but Sean Payton has since led New Orleans to two consecutive wins in the series. The Saints defeated Jacksonville handily in 2007 and 2011, with Drew Brees throwing for nearly 800 combined yards in the two contests.

Drew Brees Dealing with Injury

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One of the keys to this week’s contest will be the availability of Drew Brees, who suffered a foot injury against the Lions on Monday night.

After he escaped the pass rush of Detroit defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, Brees came away limping, and he appeared to be in obvious pain. His right foot was taped up on the sidelines, and he returned to lead the Saints’ comeback attempt. But the injury was apparently significant.

According to ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder, Brees has a torn plantar fascia in his right foot.

Brees hasn’t been ruled out yet, but if he can’t go Sunday, New Orleans will have a big decision to make.

Veteran backup Matt Flynn has a good deal of NFL experience, but the Saints could also opt to go with Garrett Grayson, who they drafted last May as a potential successor to Brees. With New Orleans out of the playoff hunt, the Saints could view Sunday’s game as an opportunity to give the rookie some valuable experience in a regular-season game.

Injury Report

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Because of the fact they played Monday night, the Saints were off on Wednesday and didn’t practice.

The team still released an estimated injury report on its official site, and it listed multiple starters, including Brees, under the "did not practice" category. It included the following:

Terron Armstead

The Saints have listed starting left tackle Terron Armstead on the report with a knee injury for several weeks running, but he’s still been able to go each week come game time.

Against Detroit, he held his own quite well against Ezekiel Ansah, who’s been one of the league’s top pass-rushers this season.

At this point, there’s no reason to think Armstead won’t be a full go on Sunday.

Marques Colston

Veteran wideout Marques Colston has sat out Wednesday practices for the latter half of the season, but he’s missed the workouts for rest and recovery purposes and not because of injury.

Things are different this week, however, after the 32-year-old suffered a chest injury against the Lions on Monday night.

If Colston can’t go Sunday, look for second-year receiver Brandon Coleman to see an increase in targets. The 6’6” former undrafted free agent has drawn comparisons to Colston, and the Jaguars game could be a prime opportunity for him to further his development.

Dannell Ellerbe

Starting linebacker Dannell Ellerbe has battled injuries all season, and he’s still listed on the report with a hip injury.

Ellerbe had a somewhat shaky performance against Detroit, and he made nearly every postgame highlight reel after nearly being juked out of his cleats by Lions running back Theo Riddick.

Nevertheless, the Saints linebacking corps is faster and more athletic with the seven-year veteran in the lineup, and New Orleans could certainly use him against Jacksonville on Sunday.

Zach Strief

Starting right tackle Zach Strief was taken out of Monday night’s game, and Wednesday’s report revealed he has an injured elbow. The 10-year veteran has endured a rough season, and Sunday would be a good time for New Orleans to give rookie Andrus Peat the start at right tackle.

Peat, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 draft, has played multiple positions along the line this season, but with Armstead manning the left side, he could prove to be a natural fit for the Saints at right tackle. Sunday’s game could be the perfect time for him to step up and seize the starting position for the foreseeable future.

Benjamin Watson

Tight end Benjamin Watson has been a pleasant surprise for the Saints this season, as he’s filled the starting spot vacated by Jimmy Graham quite nicely.

He’s listed on the report with a knee injury, however, and if he can’t play Sunday afternoon, New Orleans will look to Josh Hill to step in and play a key role in the passing game.

Jairus Byrd

Unlike the other players on the report, safety Jairus Byrd (knee) was listed as limited with a knee injury.

Given the fact he’s played through the injury for the past couple of games, there’s a strong chance he’ll be good to go again come Sunday.

Key Matchups to Watch

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Saints Pass-Rushers vs. Jaguars Offensive Line

Like the other aspects of its defense, the New Orleans pass rush has been a disappointment in 2015. One opposing passer after another has enjoyed a prolific outing against the Saints, and if things don’t change Sunday, Blake Bortles could be next in line.

To be fair, the Saints did get to Matthew Stafford three times Monday night. Those sacks were the only three times they touched Stafford in the entire game, however, and he was afforded ample time in the pocket on most pass attempts. The results were ugly for the Saints, as Stafford torched them for a 22-of-25 three-touchdown passing performance.

New Orleans has three capable sack artists in defensive end Cam Jordan and linebackers Kasim Edebali and Hau’oli Kikaha. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been more prone to bring blitz pressure than former coordinator Rob Ryan, but if the Saints are to have success Sunday, these three defenders must win some one-on-one matchups and get after Bortles.

New Orleans Running Backs vs. Jacksonville Linebackers

Even if Brees is able to play Sunday, his mobility will likely be significantly limited with a torn plantar fascia, and he’ll need some help from the New Orleans' rushing attack.

If Brees can’t go and Flynn or Grayson gets the nod, the Saints will have even more incentive to run the football and help their quarterback by allowing him to lean on a capable ground game.

Tim Hightower has carried the load between the tackles for New Orleans the past couple of weeks, and he’s done an admirable job of filling in for the injured Mark Ingram.

The going won't be easy this week against Jacksonville's No. 12-ranked run defense, however. Hightower will attempt to run downhill against a solid group of linebackers led by middle ‘backer Paul Posluszny. 

Yes, the New Orleans offensive line will need to do its part up front, but the matchup between Hightower and Posluszny will certainly be worth keeping a close eye on as the Saints attempt to establish a consistent running game.

Prediction

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Obviously, the availability of Brees greatly affects any prediction for this game, as he plays such a key role for the Saints. 

Given the serious nature of the injury, there's a chance he won't play Sunday, which would make this matchup a difficult one for New Orleans. 

The Jaguars have been on a bit of a roll offensively in the past few weeks, scoring a combined 107 points in their last three games. Against the Saints' No. 31-ranked defense Sunday, Bortles will look to hook up early and often with wideout Allen Robinson, who's gone for over 1,100 yards already this season.

Assuming Brees doesn't play, New Orleans won't have an answer on offense for Jacksonville's potent quarterback-receiver combo. The Saints will therefore struggle to keep pace, and they'll come up short at home for the second straight week. 

Jaguars 27, Saints 20