Saints vs. Washington Football Team Game Preview | 2021 NFL Week 5

After going 2-2 for the first four games of the 2021 season, the New Orleans Saints go on the road to take on the Washington Football Team on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

Oct 06, 2021 at 10:46 AM

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THE MATCHUP: SAINTS AT WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM 2021 WEEK 5

After going 2-2 for the first four games of the 2021 season, the New Orleans Saints go on the road for two consecutive contests, starting with taking on the Washington Football Team on Sunday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

It is the 28th contest all-time between the two clubs, who both resided in the NFL's Century Division in 1967 and 1969, with the Washington Football Team holding a 17-10 advantage in the series. Since 2003, six of the eight games between the two clubs have been decided by eight points or less. Coach Sean Payton is 3-3 against the Washington football team since taking over as head coach of the Saints in 2006, but has captured the last two games, both played at home. The Washington Football Team holds a 7-5 advantage over New Orleans at home, but are 2-3 against the Saints at FedEx Field since the first meeting at their current home stadium.

The Washington Football Team comes off a fourth quarter, come-from-behind 34-30 victory at the Atlanta Falcons.

The Saints will seek to return to form in a month where they had a running 14-game winning streak, seeking to set up a new run and make their move in the NFC South race.

SAINTS-WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM SERIES HISTORY

The New Orleans Saints and Washington Football Team first met in 1967. In both the inaugural season of the Saints and the 1969 campaign, the two clubs played against each other twice a season in the NFL's Capitol division, prior to the formation of two conferences and the the NFC West in 1970. New Orleans has posted a 10-17 record against Washington. It is a series defined by tight, hard -fought games.

11 of the 27 games between the Saints and Washington have been decided by seven points or less, five by a field goal or less. The Saints have a 5-7 road record against Washington, including a 3-2 mark at FedEx Field. Below is a view of the all-time results:

Date Score Site

9/24/67 Loss, 10-30 @ Tulane Stad.
12/17/67 Win, 30-14 D.C. Stadium
9/22/68 Win, 37-17 @ Tulane Stadium
9/21/69 Loss, 20-26 @ Tulane Stadium
12/14/69 Loss, 14-17 @ R.F.K Stadium
10/31/71 Loss, 14-24 @ R.F.K. Stadium
10/28/73 Win, 19-3 @ Tulane Stadium
9/21/75 Loss, 3-41 @ R.F.K Stadium
10/28/79 Win, 14-10 @ R.F.K Stadium
10/26/80 Loss, 14-22 @ R.F.K. Stadium
12/26/82 Loss, 10-27 @ Superdome
10/5/86 Loss, 6-14 @ Superdome
11/6/88 Loss, 24-27 @ R.F.K Stadium
10/1/89 Loss, 14-16 @ Superdome
11/18/90 Loss, 17-31 @ R.F.K Stadium
11/23/92 Win, 20-3 @ Superdome
9/11/94 Loss, 24-38 @ Superdome
12/30/01 Loss, 10-40 @ Superdome
10/13/02 Win, 43-27 @ FedEx Field
11/30/03 Win, 24-20 @ FedEx Field
12/17/06 Loss, 10-16 @ Superdome
9/14/08 Loss, 24-29 @ FedEx Field
12/6/09 Win, 33-30 OT @ FedEx Field
9/9/12 Loss, 32-40 @ Superdome
11/15/15 Loss, 14-47 @ FedEx Field
11/19/17 Win, 34-31 OT @ Superdome
10/8/18 Win, 43-19 @ Superdome

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM WEEK 4 RECAP

From WashingtonFootball.com

The Washington Football Team survived a wild, back-and-forth battle with the Atlanta Falcons and overcame a 10-point deficit with a 34-30 win. Here are five takeaways from the afternoon.

Taylor Heinicke and Terry McLaurin are ballers.

In the best statistical offensive performance Washington has had thus far this season, Taylor Heinicke and Terry McLaurin were the team's brightest stars.

Heinicke, who threw a pair of interceptions in a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills a week ago, had a much stronger performance against the Falcons' defense by completing 23-of-33 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Heinicke was accurate for most of the game, but he was at his best when Washington was down eight points with less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

With Washington driving at Atlanta's 17-yard line, Heinicke made some elusive moves to keep the play alive before completing a shot to McLaurin, who fought through coverage in the back of the end zone. Then, with just two minutes left, Heinicke found J.D. McKissic on the opposite end of the field, and the running back did the rest of the work on a diving 30-yard score to take the lead for good.

Speaking of McLaurin, the third-year receiver had his second 100-yard performance of the season with six receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets. It was the third-best statistical performance of his young career, and for what it's worth, Washington is 2-0 when McLaurin gets double-digit targets.

3 Standouts in Washington's Week 4 Win Over the Falcons

Taylor Heinicke Was The Clutch Game Manager Washington Needed Against Atlanta

Washington-Falcons Monday Stats Pack

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS WEEK 4 RECAP

The Saints will be looking to remove the bad taste in their mouth associated with a 27-21 overtime loss to the New York Giants. Despite the losing effort, the contest featured one of the Saints' best offensive performances of the year. QB Jameis Winston completed 17-of-23 passes for 226 yards with one touchdown and a 119.1 passer rating, including a 58-yard completion to WR Marquez Callaway.

The run game, grounding up 170 total yards and two touchdowns, was led by RB Alvin Kamara, who carried a career-high 26 times for 120 yards (4.6 avg.), the fourth time he reached the century mark running the ball. QB Taysom Hill carried six times for 28 yards as he posted two rushing touchdowns for the third time in his five-year career. The New Orleans offensive line did not allow one sack in a standout blocking effort.

Photos: Game Action | Saints vs. Giants Week 4 2021