New Orleans Saints

Colts seek a critical win against injury-plagued Saints on Monday night

Published Dec. 14, 2019 10:04 a.m. ET

Brett Martel

NEW ORLEANS — Saints coach Sean Payton is trying not to let New Orleans' latest bout with key injuries undermine his club's Super Bowl aspirations.

A pair of starting defensive linemen who are both former first-round draft choices — end Marcus Davenport and tackle Sheldon Rankins — left last week's loss to San Francisco with what turned out to be season-ending injuries.

But as the Saints (10-3) prepare to meet Indianapolis (6-7) on Monday night, they do so having already demonstrated how resilient they can be without prominent players in the lineup.

The Saints went 5-0 while record-setting quarterback Drew Brees was out with a thumb injury early this season. Star running back Alvin Kamara, top receiving tight end Jared Cook, left tackle Terron Armstead, left guard Andrus Peat, top cornerback Marshon Lattimore and return specialist Deonte Harris have missed games with injuries this season as well. Rankins also sat out the season's first three games while completing his recovery from an Achilles tendon tear in last season's playoff opener.

Yet by Thanksgiving, the Saints were NFC South title holders for a third season running and are still in contention to capture one of the top two playoff seeds in the conference.

“It’s been a little bit more than we’re used to,” Payton said of the injuries to top contributors. “You start with Drew, but it is what it is. You learn as you get older that there are certain things you can control. Those are the things you spend more time focusing on than the things you can’t.”

The Saints are somewhat fortunate that they entered this season emphasizing depth on the defensive line. They still have experienced, productive players across their defensive front — just fewer of them. And they will be tested against Indy's sixth-ranked running game, featuring Marlon Mack.

“One of the things this year that we felt was beneficial was our depth at the defensive line position, carrying eight each game and getting into a rotation," Payton said. “So that when you lose two starters, the depth helps you.”

The Colts could use a break, having lost five of six. They're now one loss from playoff elimination as they meet a Saints squad that oddsmakers have favored by more than a touchdown.

Indianapolis coach Frank Reich doesn't expect New Orleans' normally stout defensive front to crumble.

“They’re rotating guys who substitute that are good players. I’m sure they feel like us and most teams do, these backups are going to step in and do a good job,” Reich said. "We certainly know we are going up against a good front.”

QUIET KAMARA

Kamara is coming off a relatively quiet game by his prolific standards -- just 25 yards rushing and 18 receiving against San Francisco. That marked his second straight game, and third in the last five, with fewer than 100 yards from scrimmage.

But Brees doesn't sound worried about Kamara, who needs just 38 yards receiving to become the third player in NFL history with at least 500 yards receiving and 500 yards rushing in each of his first three seasons.

“There's just only so many balls to go around,” Brees said. "Alvin is one of our playmakers. We want to get on the ball. We want to give him opportunities.”

FOURTH-QUARTER WOES

The Colts have blown second-half leads each of the past three weeks, putting their playoff hopes in peril.

Indy has slid from the top of the AFC South to third place, and the reason is simple. Houston, Tennessee and Tampa Bay outscored the Colts 31-0 in the fourth quarter.

"Very frustrating," tight end Jack Doyle said, adding that he believes the Colts "have the right group of guys" to bounce back.

JUMPING IN

Rookie Parris Campbell became the fifth Colts receiver to land on injured reserve this season when he broke his foot last week.

Indy filled his spot by bringing back a familiar name, Dontrelle Inman.

The Virginia alum was one of the Colts' midseason acquisitions last season, finishing with 28 receptions for 304 yards and three TD catches in nine games. But the Colts and Inman couldn't agree to terms during the offseason. He wound up playing four games for the Los Angeles Chargers before returning to Indy.

He'll try to take pressure off four-time Pro Bowler T.Y. Hilton, who has missed five of the last six games with an injured calf and was limited in practice this week.

ROSTER MOVES

The Saints moved quickly to add a pair of free-agent veterans — tackle T.Y. McGill and end Noah Spence.

McGill was a teammate of Colts QB Jacoby Brissett at North Carolina State. He wasn't allowed to touch Brissett in practice, but now might get his first chance to sack him.

ARE YOU READY?

Indy is making its first Monday appearance since October 2016.

That might be a bigger deal for some than Colts 2018 All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard, who enjoyed watching pro wrestling as a kid.

"I'm not going to lie, I watched 'Monday Night Raw,'" the reigning defensive rookie of the year said. “But it's really special when you know the whole world is watching.”