Series history and predictions The New Orleans Saints host the Cleveland Browns this afternoon in
the second game of the 2018 season for both teams. The Browns surprised some by
tying their division rival
Authentic Marshon Lattimore Jersey , the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the season opener by a 21-21 score. It was their first non-loss since December 24, 2016,
ending a streak of 17 consecutive losses. (Well, sort of). New Orleans had
perhaps the more surprising result of the opening weekend, getting upset at home
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a 48-40 score. This will be the 18th meeting
between the two franchises, with the Browns holding a 13-4 advantage all-time,
and an 8-2 record in games played in New Orleans. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty
Images In their last meeting, a week two game during the 2014 season played in
Cleveland, the Saints lost, 26-24, on a last second field goal that would wind
up being a microcosm of their disappointing year. Cleveland and New Orleans
first met during the Saints inaugural season of 1967. On October 1, 1967, the
Browns defeated the Saints by a score of 42-7 in Tulane stadium. The game would
mark the largest margin of victory by either team in the series, along with the
most points scored by the winning team, and the least amount of points scored by
the loser. The two teams were actually in the same division together for one
year in 1968, the NFL's Capitol Division. That year
Authentic Michael Thomas Jersey , the Browns defeated the Saints in the season opener, a 24-10 win in New Orleans, and won the rematch later that year
in Cleveland, 35-14. Cleveland won the first eight meetings between the two
franchises, with the Saints not emerging victorious until a 16-14 win in
Cleveland on October 28 of the 1984 season. That was the first of three straight
victories by New Orleans in the series, including their first home win against
Cleveland, on opening day of the strike-shortened 1987 season by a score of
28-21. The Browns do hold a slight edge in games played in the Superdome (4-2),
site of today's game, but New Orleans hasn't beaten Cleveland from the confines
of home since a 25-20 win on October 14 of the 1990 season. One of the most
embarrassing moments in Saints franchise history took place on October 31, 1999.
The Browns, who had been inactive as a franchise since 1995, re-entered the NFL
as an expansion team in the ‘99 season. After beginning their first year back
0-7, they came into the Superdome on Halloween and defeated the Saints 21-16 on
a 56-yd. Hail Mary touchdown pass from quarterback Tim Couch to wide receiver
Kevin Johnson on the final play of the game. The last meeting in the Superdome
between these two took place on October 24, 2010. The Browns won that match up,
30-17, on the strength of 4 New Orleans turnovers, including two interceptions
of Drew Brees that they returned for touchdowns. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty
ImagesThe first regular season game of the Drew Brees/Sean Payton era was in
Cleveland against the Browns on September 10
http://www.neworleanssaintsteamonline.com/austin-carr-jersey , 2006. The Saints won that game, 19-14, a game that helped springboard them to a
playoff berth less than one year after the team, and the entire Gulf Coast
region, was thrown into disarray by the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. Despite
the Browns' dominance over New Orleans in this series, the games are normally
very closely played contests. Ten of the last thirteen games played between the
two have been decided by seven points or less, and the average score of the six
games played in the Superdome is Cleveland 23.3 compared to New Orleans 19.5.
Photo by: Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesGregg Williams, currently the Browns defensive
coordinator, served in that same capacity with the Saints and Sean Payton from
2009-12. The two coaches split during the "Bountygate" scandal, causing both
Payton and Williams to be suspended for the entire year, and a reported rift to
begin between the two (something both men have always denied). When Williams was
defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams in 2016, Payton was accused by
some of running up the score in a 49-21 New Orleans win, where the Saints coach
was incredibly demonstrative along the sideline. Regardless of the relationship
between the two, it is undeniable that each coach knows the other's system and
tendencies. The Saints continue to be without the services of Pro Bowl running
back Mark Ingram, who is serving a four game league suspension, but have one of
the league's most productive passing games. The Browns, who have won just 4 of
their last 45 games
http://www.neworleanssaintsteamonline.com/alvin-kamara-jersey , will be without the services of wideout Josh Gordon, along with promising
defenders Emmanuel Ogbah and Christian Kirksey in this one. New Orleans was
viewed coming into the year as having one of the league's most balanced rosters.
The pride of a defense that showed great improvement last season is stung after
such a poor showing against Tampa Bay, something that the team's leaders vowed
would not happen again. If the Saints are truly a championship contender, then
this is almost a must-win situation for them at home. Saints 34Browns 21Cameron
Meredith’s Status is Biggest Saints Development in OTAs Every year in OTAs, NFL
teams are able to dream about what could-be by looking at how there team is
coming together after an offseason full of moves. Each team has budding stories,
the next “big thing,” and players who look to be “ahead of schedule” after major
injury. Bleacher Report has named the biggest development for each NFL team in
OTAs, and for the Saints, it’s the progress of Cameron Meredith.It’s easy to get
excited about Meredith right now, even with the understanding of Meredith’s
previous injury.After Ben Watson has returned to the Saints this offseason, it’s
hard to be certain who will be the #3 option in the passing game for New Orleans
(after Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara), but if Meredith is able to build up
chemistry with Drew Brees, he could be primed to put up massive numbers for the
Saints in 2018.
