The New Orleans Saints will face the Washington Redskins on Monday night football in their first Prime Time game of the season. The Saints Teddy Bridgewater Jersey Stitched , 3-1 and winners of three straight, have been up and down with their defensive performances this season, particularly struggling against the pass. They are coming off of their best defensive performance of the year last week though, shutting down the New York Giants on the road. They now take on the 2-1 Redskins, who are coming off a bye week. Washington is averaging just 21 points per game, but has moved the ball effectively in their two wins. Despite last week's showing, the Saints defense is still giving up an average of 30 points per game, and continues to struggle getting opposing offenses off the field. Today we have a look at how the New Orleans defense matches up against their Monday night opponent. SAINTS RUN OFFENSE vs. REDSKINS RUN DEFENSE Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images The Saints are one of the best in the league at stopping the run. They are allowing less than 80 yards per game on the ground, and opponents average just 3.2 yards per carry against them. Defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison, and Taylor Stallworth have bullied opposing run blockers, not only winning the point of attack but often pushing their men into the backfield. This has allowed the New Orleans linebackers to attack the gaps and flow to the ball in pursuit more freely. Demario Davis (37 tackles)has played outstanding football over the last few weeks, and is one of the league's most dominant run defenders. Manti Te'o is questionable to return this week after missing the last two games, but A.J. Klein, Alex Anzalone, and Craig Robertson have combined for solid and productive play. Defensive ends Cam Jordan and Alex Okafor are each well-rounded defenders who are every bit as good against the run as they are against the pass. Rookie Marcus Davenport has improved against the run each week, and altered several plays in the Giants offensive backfield last week. Washington averages 137 yards per game on the ground, but 174 in their two wins. Promising second round pick Derrius Guice was slated to be the team's top back, but suffered a torn ACL in preseason and was lost for the year. The Redskins also lost running backs Rob Kelley and Byron Marshall to injury until at least midseason while last year's leading rusher, Samaje Perine, has missed the last three games with injury. Washington responded to their wave of injuries by signing 12-yr. veteran Adrian Peterson, who looks to prove that he still has some pop in his 33-yr. old legs. The results so far have been encouraging for Redskin fans, as Peterson opened the year by running for 96 yards and a score, then 120 yards and two touchdowns in a week three victory over Green Bay. Peterson, who is nursing an ankle injury and may not be at full strength Monday night, has averaged 4.1 yards per carry, and can still run with power between the tackles. Running back Chris Thompson is Washington's most versatile offensive player. He provides a change of pace style to Peterson's power, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and is an accomplished receiver. Thompson's 20 receptions lead the team, while his 155 receiving yards are second. Washington's interior line has done a good job getting push for Peterson to find running room, but guard Shawn Lauvao missed their last game with a calf injury that may also sideline him for this game. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports~ Key matchup: Demario Davis vs. Adrian Peterson/Chris Thompson ~Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesPeterson, who of course started the 2017 season with the Saints before getting traded to Arizona after four games and a lowly 3 yd. average per carry, has downplayed his departure from New Orleans all week. Peterson may be just a shadow of his former explosive self, but he can still push a pile and move the chains. Thompson's receiving skills and open field abilities have given the New Orleans defense trouble in the past Youth Larry Warford Jersey , and must be contained by the Saints linebacking corps. New Orleans linebackers have generally done a solid job this year of limiting opposing backs, although Saquon Barkley broke a big run and had nearly 60 yards receiving last Sunday. Demario Davis is beginning to play at a Pro Bowl level, and is spearheading improved play by the entire linebacker unit. The New Orleans defensive line must continue to win it's battles up front in the running game, but it will be Davis and the linebackers that must be able to stuff Peterson in the backfield and limit Thompson in the open field. SAINTS PASS DEFENSE vs. REDSKINS PASS OFFENSE Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsThe Saints have allowed 311 yards per game through the air this season and have given up 11 passing touchdowns. They did have their best outing of the season in last week's win over New York, holding Giant wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard to a combined 133 yards receiving and most importantly, zero big plays down the field. Beckham in particular was visibly frustrated at being held in check, mainly due to the tight coverage from Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The second year Lattimore looks to be back to his Pro Bowl form of a year ago after a rough regular season opener against Tampa Bay. Ken Crawley and P.J. Williams continue to have their struggles at the other corner spots though, and continue to be probably this defense's most vulnerable area. New Orleans signed former Viking and Buccaneer starter Josh Robinson, along with recently released Packer cornerback Demetri Goodson this week to bolster depth and provide possible competition. The Saints were able to nullify big play chances from Beckham and Shepard due to better communication on the back end as well, and are getting much better play from safeties Williams and Vonn Bell. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is using his linebackers in a variety of ways to defend the passing game, mixing blitzes and coverage drops in hopes of keeping opposing passers uncomfortable. Demario Davis had two big sacks of New York's Eli Manning last week, while A.J. Klein and Craig Robertson have proven to be effective in blitz packages as well. The Saints defensive tackles have combined for two sacks so far (Rankins and Davison), but have the capability to provide inside pressure. Ends Cameron Jordan (4 sacks), Alex Okafor, and Marcus Davenport (1 sack) have been inconsistent at pressuring the quarterback, but are a handful for any offensive tackle and have the potential to take over a game. Brad Mills-USA TODAY SportsRedskins tackles Trent Williams and Morgan Moses will look to control the Saints edge rush. The Washington line is a bit banged up, and allowed six sacks in the team's first two games. Williams (knee) and Moses (concussion protocol) are question marks entering this game, while guards Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao have each been limited by leg injuries. After trading for quarterback Alex Smith to replace the departed free agent Kirk Cousins, the Washington passing attack has not been as dynamic as in recent years. The Skins have averaged 265 yards passing, but Smith has thrown just four touchdown passes. Unlike with Cousins, when they often employed a downfield attack, Smith is more effective using a shorter and safe attack to spread the defense from sideline to sideline. Tight end Jordan Reed (14 catches, and a team high 168 yards) is second to running back Chris Thompson in receptions, but Smith has a few big play wideouts to threaten defenses. Jamison Crowder, who led the team in catches and receiving yards last year, is a small but lightening quick wideout who can find the open spots in coverage and make plays after the catch. Free agent signee Paul Richardson is a dangerous deep threat who can make the tough reception in traffic. Josh Doctson, the team's first round pick in 2016, may miss this game with a heel injury, but if able to play will present another matchup issue for the New Orleans secondary. ~ Key matchup to watch: Marcus Williams and Vonn Bell vs. TE's Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty ImagesAlex Smith has always used his tight ends very effectively throughout his career, and he has two good ones with Washington. Both Reed and Davis can cause mismatches due to their physicality and athleticism, and the New Orleans secondary has had major problems against each player in the past. We can expect to see Crawley or P.J. Williams draw some coverage responsibilities against them during the game, as well as the Saints linebackers out of some formations. The middle of the field though, where Reed and Davis are most effective, is where the Saints safeties will need to make plays. Williams has the team's only interception on the year so far Larry Warford Jersey Stitched , but both he and Bell have played better in coverage after a rocky start to the season. Bell had an outstanding game against the Redskins in last year's meeting, finishing with 13 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in the Saints overtime win. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsThis is a slightly different Washington offense than the one that has averaged 333 passing yards and 37 points in their last four meetings against New Orleans. Alex Smith typically operates an offense that doesn't produce alot of big plays, but will beat an opponent with efficiency. As most Saints fans know from his days with San Francisco and Kansas City however, Smith has the capability to make the necessary plays to win. Expect Dennis Allento aggressively pressure Washington's banged up offensive line with the New Orleans front seven, hoping to bottle up the Redskin running game and force Smith into quick throws. The Saints secondary must again prevent deep completions, but must also shut down Crowder, Richardson, and Thompson in the open field. New Orleans forced two New York turnovers, both fumbles, in last week's victory, bringing their total to just 3 turnovers forced in four games. The Saints defense is playing with an increased confidence after last Sunday's performance, and will likely be extremely aggressive to start the game Monday night. Early success against Washington could lead to turnovers and big plays, and lead to an increase in defensive momentum as they head into a bye week, then the most difficult part of their schedule. Good morning Y’allAs always, for our novice readers or non-New Orleanians, welcome! Let’s start with some definitions:Beignets (English: /b蓻n藞je瑟/; French: [b蓻刹蓻], ben-YAY literally bump) are distinctly New Orleans, a delicacy intimately connected to the city’s rich French heritage. Best enjoyed heavily powdered with sugar.Caf茅 au lait (/藢k忙fe瑟 o蕣 藞le瑟, k忙藢fe瑟, k蓹-/; French: [kafe ol蓻]; French for “coffee with milk”) is a delicious New Orleans way to start your day. This is your “After-Saints-Game” breakfast, where we talk about the state of the Black and Gold, we debate the goings-on in the NFC South, and paint the playoff picture in the NFC up to this point of the season. So, sit back, take a bite and a sip while your brain slowly wakes up, and let’s catch up on some football. *What Just Happened?The Saints’ season came to a bitter end yesterday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in a hard-fought 26-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. With 1:58 left in the game, New Orleans had a 1st-and-10 at the Rams’ 13-yard line following a Ted Ginn Jr. 43-yard reception. With Los Angeles having only two timeouts, it figured that New Orleans would run the ball twice, force the Rams to use their remaining timeouts and on third down, decide whether to eat up more clock and kick a go-ahead field goal. Instead, in typical Sean Payton fashion, the Saints went for the kill: a first down pass to Michael Thomas fell incomplete Youth A.J. Klein Jersey , stopping the clock at 1:55. A toss run to Alvin Kamara gained no yards and the Rams took a timeout with 1:49 left on the clock. Then on third down, Drew Brees dropped back and threw towards Tommylee Lewis: Lewis got hit in the head by Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, who arrived before the ball. That is not one, but two penalties on that one play: no flag and the clock stopped at 1:41.The flag would’ve given the Saints the ball at Los Angeles’ 6-yard line, 1st-and-goal with the Rams having only one timeout left. Needless to say, that the game would have likely been over at that point, with New Orleans having the ability to run out the clock and kick a field goal. But the non-call left the Saints with only one option: kick the field goal and hope your defense can make a stop.The Saints’ defense made a stop, but not a complete one. Los Angeles was able to drive 45 yards from their own 25 in 1:26 to attempt a 48-yard field goal, which Greg Zuerlein converted, sending the game to overtime.In overtime, the Saints had yet another chance on offense, winning the toss and starting at their own 30-yard line. Unfortunately for New Orleans, a hit by Dante Fowler Jr. on Drew Brees who was trying to connect with Michael Thomas was intercepted by strong safety John Johnson at Los Angeles’ 46-yard line.Once again, the Saints’ defense had a chance to make a complete stop. In truth, they did: New Orleans gave up only 15 yards, but the Saints’ 39-yard line would prove enough, has Greg Zuerlein would make a 57-yard field goal to send the Rams to Super Bowl LIII*Five Numbers...That Don’t Lie116.7: The passer rating for Rams punter Johnny Hekker, who went 1-for-1 passing for 12 yards on the day. Hekker, humorously had the highest passer rating in the game via a pass that gave the Rams a much-needed momentum boost. Down 13-0, and facing a 4th-and-5 at their own 30-yard line, Los Angeles was lined up to punt the ball again when Hekker found Sam Shields for a 12-yard fake punt pass for a first down. The Rams would go on to score a field goal on that possession, but from that point on, they started trading punches with the Saints.48: The Saints total rushing yards on Sunday. New Orleans could not find any semblance of balance against the Rams yesterday, as the team rushed for 2.3 yards-per-carry on 21 attempts. Brees had to attempt 40 passes (same as Goff) because both teams were very good at stopping the run.44. The number of rushing yards recorded by Rams’ running back C.J. Anderson on 16 carries. You remember how Anderson was deemed the second coming of Eric Dickerson prior to the game? The running back came back down to earth in the NFC title game, as he averaged only 2.8 yards-per-carry for the game. The Saints now have not allowed a 100-yard rusher since November 19, 2017 when Samaje Perine of the Washington Redskins had 117 yards in a week 11 contest. This defense made an incredible leap the past two years. Let’s hope this upward defensive trend continues.3: The number of NFC Championship Games the Saints have played in. Following yesterday’s loss to the Rams, the Saints are now 1-2 in NFC title games, all under Sean Payton. For the past two seasons, the Saints have advanced to the divisional round and to the championship round respectively. Here’s to hoping that next year will be the one when they return to the big dance and win it.1: The number of playoff losses at home for the Saints under Sean Payton. New Orleans is now 6-1 in the Superdome under Payton in the postseason. They were likely one egregious non-call away from 7-0.*Beignets and Caf茅 au Lait AwardsFresh Beignets with Hot Coffee: The Who Dat Nation. For the third time this season on “Beignets and Caf茅 au lait”, I want to congratulate the fans in the Superdome. But also, Saints fans everywhere. Our team had an outstanding season, and we rocked the dome and opponents who set foot in it. The Saints may have fallen short of our collective Super Bowl dream, but what a ride it was. Can’t wait for next season!Stale Beignets with Day-old Coffee: The referee who was too chicken to throw a flag. Yes, I truly believe that a game is never won or lost on just one play or call. But it also depends on the play or call. When Tommylee Lewis was oh so blatantly interfered with White Morten Andersen Jersey , with less than two minutes left in the game, making the correct pass interference or personal foul call would have required a lot of guts. This was basically the game. This was it. But the referee (who I believe saw the play) was afraid. Afraid to change the course of the game, afraid to have “too much” influence on the game, afraid to become the goat (in the negative meaning of it). This is akin to referees completely disregarding big calls in the last two minutes of a basketball game. It is cowardly. That referee potentially negatively changed Drew Brees’ legacy. He potentially negatively changed Sean Payton’s legacy. He potentially changed Sean McVay and Jared Goff’s legacy (to the benefit of the latter two). He had a job to do, and he failed. Yes, the Saints had several opportunities to win the game, but that one call would have ended it, for all intents and purposes. And one referee was too much of a coward to throw his flag.*What’s Next?The Saints’ season done, New Orleans will now turn its eye to the 2019 NFL draft. It is almost strange to think that a team that was one game away from the Super Bowl could need to get better, but when you look closely, New Orleans also had some subtle weaknesses that probably led to the Rams even having a chance to be in the game yesterday. Here are some of the team’s needs this offseason:Wide Receiver: Despite a dynamite season and falling just short of the Super Bowl, the Saints have some serious needs to improve their team, and the first glaring one is at wide receiver: Michael Thomas is all-world, but yesterday with the Rams doubling him every single play, the Saints’ amazing pass-catcher had only 4 receptions on 7 targets for 36 yards. Thomas sorely needs another top-flight wide receiver across from him. The current corps made of Ted Ginn Jr., Keith Kirkwood and Tre’Quan Smith simply is not enough to truly keep defenses honest.Tight end: With veteran tight end Benjamin Watson retiring, it has been a while since New Orleans had a bona fide tight end. The current crop of Dan Arnold, Josh Hill and Garrett Griffin would probably not start anywhere else in the NFL.Offensive Line: The Saints need better depth at the position. The starting five is outstanding, although center Max Unger is getting a bit long in the tooth. Also, injuries have shown that this unit is more than crucial for the Saints success.Defensive End: Rookie Marcus Davenport showed flashes, but eventually he showed his youth against veteran offensive linemen. Davenport has to improve, but the Saints will likely look to bolster the position across from Cameron Jordan. Yesterday the Saints constantly had to resort to blitzing to put even the slightest amount of pressure on Jared Goff.Cornerback: With Marshon Lattimore and Eli Apple, the Saints have two starting caliber cover corners. However, depth at the position is always a must. P.J. Williams is not exactly a world beater and neither is Patrick Robinson, even before getting hurt.These are just some of the key positions that the Saints could address during the offseason. We will dive deeper in this topic as the offseason progresses.EpilogueThe Saints had an amazing year, and fell just short of their goal of winning a second Super Bowl in franchise history. As disappointing as this outcome is, there are always 31 teams that are left at the altar at the end of any NFL season. It is indeed heartbreaking to lose the way New Orleans has lost the past two seasons in the playoffs, but that is why we love sports and why we will come back and watch again in 2019: for the thrill, the joy, and yes sometimes, the heartbreak.Who Dat!