The New Orleans Saints (2-5) host the Cleveland Browns (5-3) Sunday at Caesars Superdome. Here are four key factors it will take for the Saints to win.

The reset button

The Saints have had two weeks to recalibrate and recover from their disappointing 2-5 start. Despite how bad they’ve been, they are still very much in the hunt in the dreadful NFC South. They are only a game behind the division-leading Carolina Panthers, who come to town next week. The schedule gets much tougher after these two games against Cleveland and Carolina. Trips to Chicago and Cincinnati are up next. So beating the Browns on Sunday seems imperative if the Saints have any chance of salvaging this season. The Saints are rested and have gotten healthier. No excuses in a game they are favored.

Can they run?

Have you heard about how bad the Saints’ running game is? Of course you have. It’s easily been the team’s biggest weakness. It’s been so bad that the Saints rushed for just 18 yards in their last game against the Steelers, which led to Kellen Moore firing run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti.  They even claimed  RB Audric Estime, who was on the 53-man roster before being let go, off waivers this week.  Making things easier for Tyler Shough and the passing attack starts with the run game that is averaging just 86 yards per game. (28th in the league). The Browns give up 126.9 yards per game on the ground, so this is an opportunity to get on track.

Pressuring Shedeur

It looks like second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders will get the start for the Browns after starter Deshuan Watson was placed in concussion protocol earlier in the week. Sanders, part of the 2025 rookie quarterback class with Shough, started the last seven games for the Browns last season. He completed just 56.6 % of his passes with 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was sacked 23 times in those starts. Watson was sacked 8 times last week by the Steelers and has been sacked 33 times this season. So Saints edge rushers Chase Young and Carl Granderson could have a big day in Sanders’ face.

Defensive swagger

The Saints’ defense was supposed to be a strength after ranking 16th in total defense in 2025. But they’ve taken a step back. The Browns may be just the  team to get Brandon Staley’s defense unit back on track. Cleveland is scoring just 17.4 points per game (29th in the league). Now the Browns are playing with a backup quarterback, which could make scoring points even harder. But the Saints are giving up far too many points (27.7). Cleveland’s best weapons are RB Quinshon Judkins, TE Harold Fannin and receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion. Slowing down those skill guys shouldn’t be as daunting as some of the guys the Saints have already faced.