The New Orleans Saints will take on the the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Aug.18 at 3 p.m.at Dignity Sports Park in Carson, Calif., and it will be broadcast nationally on CBS.
The Saints (0-1) are 5-7 all-time against the Chargers (0-1) in the regular season and are 4-4 in preseason contests. New Orleans is riding a three-game winning streak in both the regular season and preseason against the Chargers, having not dropped a regular season tilt against Sunday's opponent since 2004 and an exhibition since 1985.
Since 2017, the two clubs have conducted two days of joint training camp practices, followed by a preseason tilt. On Aug. 25, 2018, the Saints beat the Chargers 36-7 in the third preseason contest that featured extensive action by the club's starters, a period of practices and a victory that served as a springboard toward a 13-3 season that resulted in a division championship in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history and advancing to the NFC championship game.
The Black and Gold opened the 2019 preseason with a 34-25 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as tight end Dan Arnold and rookie wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey caught touchdowns from Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill. In the running game, New Orleans gained 141 yards. Bridgewater started for the Saints and played the entire first half. He completed 14-of-19 passes for 134 yards one touchdown and a 110.4 passer rating. Hill took over the reigns in the second half and showed his versatility running and passing. He completed eight of 14 passes for 80 yards and also carried six times for a team-best 45 yards (7.5 avg.).
After Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray received limited snaps at running back, Devine Ozigbo and Dwayne Washington received more extensive auditions. Washington carried eight times for 36 yards (4.5 avg.) and Ozigbo rushed three times for 20 yards (6.7 avg.).
The Saints defense surrendered 460 yards to the Vikings and struggled on third down as well as surrendering several big plays, all of which have been a point of emphasis in both corrections on film at meetings and during practices at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center this week.
