Inarguably, the octane level has been less than ideal for the New Orleans Saints offense the last two games, when the Saints (2-2) totaled 36 points, 37 first downs and 585 yards after opening the season with 91 points, 46 first downs and 811 yards in the first two weeks.
Revving back up against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City (4-0) doesn't figure to be an easy task. The Saints face the Chiefs on Monday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., in their first of three nationally televised, prime-time games this season.
Arrowhead is one of the noisiest venues in the NFL, which can cause communication issues for opposing offenses. The Saints still are getting minds wrapped around a new offense that was installed in the offseason.
"It's always tough because the noise plays a factor," said quarterback Derek Carr, who faced the Chiefs 17 times in nine seasons – nine times in Kansas City – with the Raiders. Carr has completed 407 of 651 passes (63%) for 4,120 yards and 26 touchdowns, with 17 interceptions, against the Chiefs.
"You're going with that, and you're going against the Super Bowl champions. It's a huge challenge," Carr said. "Is it going to be easy? Absolutely not. But we're excited for that challenge just like we have been all year.
"Every week is a new challenge and this week is a great challenge, for us to go into that atmosphere against that great of a team and compete against them."
The Saints showed offensive improvement against the Falcons; after scoring 12 points, going one for three in the red zone and totaling 219 yards against the Eagles, New Orleans posted 24 points, went three of four in the red zone and compiled 366 yards against Atlanta. So there was some trending back in the right direction.
"The last game, I thought we ran the ball efficiently and threw it better, but there was – I don't remember the exact drive number, but somewhere in the middle there were some drives in there where we had to punt and we gave them the ball," Carr said.
New Orleans scored on its first two offensive possessions 16:18 into the game to take a 14-7 lead, then had possessions end in an interception returned for a touchdown, punt, punt and punt before breaking the drought with a field goal drive with 1:08 left in the third quarter.
"You want to clean everything up, and we're learning as we're going through this season with different opportunities on different plays," Carr said. "'Oh, that makes sense now,' so you try and not make that mistake again the next time. I feel like we played better (against Atlanta) than we did the week prior, and hopefully we can just keep getting better."
The task this week is to do it in one of the league's most hostile environments.
"The crowd is unbelievable. It feels like that college atmosphere, just diehard fans," Carr said. "Super loud. One of, if not the loudest, stadiums I've ever played in. And they have a really good football team. It's a fun environment to play in, very tough to execute and win in."
DEMARIO BACK, KENDRE DEBUTS: The good news for the Saints on Thursday was linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis. The five-time All-Pro missed his first NFL game due to an injury Sunday against Atlanta. Also practicing limited was running back Kendre Miller, who has been out with a hamstring injury since the first day of training camp. Coach Dennis Allen said Miller's status will be day to day.
Those who did not practice were linebacker Willie Gay (hand), tight end Taysom Hill (rib), center Shane Lemieux (ankle), defensive end Payton Turner (knee) and kicker Blake Grupe (right hip). Allen said Hill has "fractures" in his ribs.
Other limited participants were left tackle Taliese Fuaga (back), running back Alvin Kamara (ribs, hip), receiver A.T. Perry (hamstring), tight end Juwan Johnson (forearm) and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (ankle).
