New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals: Full New Orleans Game Preview

After a long but eventful offseason, the New Orleans Saints will kick off their 2015 season on Sunday afternoon against the Arizona Cardinals.

The matchup provides the visiting Saints with the opportunity to get off to a favorable start this season as they look to shake off the disappointment of 2014 and return to the playoffs.

Although they were tabbed as preseason Super Bowl contenders, the Saints struggled through a 7-9 campaign a year ago.

Coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis have worked to right the ship throughout the offseason. In addition to releasing numerous former starters, New Orleans refined its roster with a multitude of trades and free-agent signings, including a blockbuster deal that sent star tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks.

As for the Cardinals, coach Bruce Arians’ club will also be looking to get off on the right foot as it tries to build on last season’s franchise-record 11-win regular season.

Read on for a full preview of this Week 1 matchup, which kicks off Sunday at 4:05 p.m ET/3:05 p.m. CT.

News and Notes

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Saints-Cardinals Series History

According to NewOrleansSaints.com, the Cardinals hold a 14-13 edge over the Saints in regular-season matchups between the two franchises. The first meeting occurred in New Orleans’ inaugural 1967 season, with St. Louis earning a 31-20 win at Busch Stadium.

The Saints, meanwhile, claimed victory in the teams' only postseason matchup. In a 2010 divisional playoff contest, top-seeded New Orleans defended its home turf and routed Arizona 45-14.

The Saints’ postseason run that season extended all the way to the Super Bowl, where they earned their first and only Lombardi Trophy.

The two squads last met in the Week 3 of the 2013 season, with New Orleans scoring a 31-7 blowout win in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Multiple Saints Rookie Defenders Set to Make NFL Debuts

New Orleans injected its defense with a heavy dose of youth this offseason, as the front office took full advantage of the 2015 draft.

In fact, six of the Saints’ nine draft picks were defensive players, two of whom are likely to start when New Orleans takes the field on Sunday.

Inside linebacker Stephone Anthony and outside linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha, drafted and No. 31 and No. 44 overall, respectively, have both run with the ones throughout the preseason. After it finished the 2014 season ranked No. 31 in the league in total defense, New Orleans is counting on the two young defenders to make a major impact this season.

Fast and physical, Anthony was brought aboard to fill the void at the “Mike” linebacker spot after three-year starter Curtis Lofton was released this offseason.

Meanwhile, Kikaha, who rang up a whopping 19 sacks last season for the Washington Huskies, will look to provide New Orleans with much-needed help in the pass-rushing department.

In the secondary, rookie Delvin Breaux is set to see lots of action at cornerback. The New Orleans native never played a down of college football, working his way up through the Arena League and CFL. The Saints signed him as a free agent this offseason, and Joel A. Erickson of the Advocate reported that he turned heads throughout camp and the preseason.

Given the Saints’ injuries in the secondary, look for another rookie cover man to see snaps against Arizona. Fifth-round draft choice Damian Swann was impressive throughout the preseason, and he could garner playing time on Sunday.

Zach Hocker to Handle Kicking Duties

Veteran kicker Shayne Graham was cut by the Saints this offseason, and his release set up a lengthy training camp battle between Dustin Hopkins and Zach Hocker.

The competition lasted for the entirety of training camp and preseason. Both young kickers, neither of whom has attempted a kick in an NFL game, impressed during the Saints’ exhibition games with their accuracy and leg strength.

In the end, Hocker emerged as the winner, and he’s set to kick for New Orleans on Sunday.

The 24-year-old former Arkansas standout was a seventh-round draft choice of the Washington Redskins in 2014, but he was unable to win the job in the preseason and was released.

New Orleans signed Hocker in May, just days after he was waived by the Miami Dolphins.

He hit on four of his five field-goal attempts in the preseason, including a 50-yarder against the Baltimore Ravens and a 53-yarder against the Houston Texans. He also boomed four of his five kickoffs for touchbacks.

Injury News

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New Orleans released its first injury report of the season on Wednesday.

Multiple Saints starters did not practice, including linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (toe), cornerback Keenan Lewis (hip) and safety Jairus Byrd (knee).

According ESPN’s Ed Werder, Byrd is still nursing the knee injury that ended his season a year ago, and the Saints don’t expect him to be in the lineup for at least another week.

In addition, running back C.J. Spiller (knee), linebacker Davis Tull (shoulder) and running back Tim Hightower (knee) were also out of action on Wednesday.

Cornerback Brandon Browner and safety Kenny Vaccaro, both of whom have missed the bulk of the preseason, were notably absent from the injury report.

Key Matchups and X-Factor

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Saints Receivers vs. Cardinals Defensive Backs

With Jimmy Graham no longer in the huddle, New Orleans will be without its top threat in the passing game from the past four seasons.

Second-year wideout Brandin Cooks appears primed and ready to lead the Saints’ receiving corps, and he’ll be complemented by nine-year veteran Marques Colston. After that, New Orleans doesn't have many proven options in the passing game, and the Saints will need other receivers and tight ends to step up and contribute in Week 1.

As the Saints’ No. 3 receiver, Brandon Coleman could end up playing a key role in this one. The 6’6”, 225-pound second-year wideout provides Brees with an enormous target in the short-to-intermediate passing game.

Tight ends Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill will also be counted on for significant contributions, as the always-productive New Orleans air attack looks to move on from the Graham era without missing a beat.

The Saints will be tested by a formidable Arizona secondary, which features Pro Bowl corner Patrick Peterson. Opposite Peterson is proven veteran Jerraud Powers, who’s registered 27 passes defended over the past two seasons.

On the back end, ball-hawking free safety Tyrann Mathieu, along with strong safety Deone Bucannon, will look to make plays against Brees and Co.

Saints Front Seven vs. Cardinals Offensive Line

New Orleans struggled to generate a consistent pass rush in the preseason, although that isn’t always the best indicator of regular-season performance.

With Kikaha now patrolling the edge of Rob Ryan’s aggressive defense, the Saints will be gunning for Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer early and often.

Protecting the 35-year-old signal-caller will be a short-handed group of Arizona offensive linemen. The unit will be without starting right tackle Bobby Massie, who was suspended two games for a substance-abuse violation. Starting guard Mike Iupati is also expected to be sidelined as he recovers from a knee injury.

Ryan and the Saints defense will almost certainly try to capitalize on the Cardinals’ dicey offensive line situation. If Akiem Hicks, Kevin Williams and the rest of the New Orleans front can win some battles and pressure Palmer into quick decisions, this could result in three-and-outs and, eventually, turnovers.

On the flip side, if the Saints allow the Arizona quarterback to settle into a comfort zone, the New Orleans offense may have to light up the scoreboard in order to avoid an opening-game loss.

Saints' X-factor of the Week: Marcus Murphy

Outside of a few bright spots, the New Orleans return game was largely ineffective a season ago.

As a rookie, Cooks failed to make an impact as a kickoff and punt returner, and now that he’s an integral component of the New Orleans offense, the Saints looked elsewhere this offseason to find a capable return man.

They got one in seventh-round draft pick Marcus Murphy. According to John DeShazier of NewOrleansSaints.com, he turned heads throughout the preseason with his knack for finding creases on both kickoffs and punt returns.

The former Missouri standout doesn’t have great speed, but he demonstrates impressive vision and balance, and he can make would-be tacklers whiff in the open field.

Murphy also has the decisiveness that’s always desired in a return specialist, and he could play a key role in the field position battle come Sunday afternoon.

Prediction

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With injuries to multiple starters, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, New Orleans undoubtedly has a tough matchup on Sunday.

Facing a playoff team from a year ago certainly makes for a formidable challenge, but the Saints hold the edge at one crucial position. As potent as the Cardinals offense can be with Carson Palmer under center, the Saints have an ace in their pocket in Drew Brees.

The future Hall of Fame quarterback is no longer dealing with the oblique issues that plagued him a year ago, and he looked as sharp as a tack in his only two preseason appearances.

New Orleans is without Jimmy Graham, but it has a strong offensive line with Max Unger now at center. Consequently, Sean Payton will be looking to get the Saints' ground game rolling early on.

If the Saints are able to line up and smash the Cardinals between the tackles, Brees will be the prime beneficiary, and his blossoming chemistry with Cooks will then take center stage.

The Brees-Cooks connection will ultimately prove to be too much, even for the talented Cardinals secondary, and New Orleans will outscore Arizona in a close one.

Saints 31, Cardinals 27