Jesse Minter wasn't even with the Ravens last season, but the new coach seems to have a healthy grasp of how 2025 went so badly wrong for Baltimore.
The team went 3-6 at home — the worst mark in franchise history.
“I have coached in this stadium a bunch of times. It is an advantage for the home team, and we need to play that way,” Minter said. “We need to play the way that lets our crowd really be into the game and really help us. We need to feed off of their energy. I know it is going to be a great crowd. We have the best fans in the world.”
Baltimore plays its home opener Sunday against New Orleans. It'll be the second straight road game for the Saints, who fell in overtime to Detroit last weekend. The Ravens opened with a win at Indianapolis.
Both teams showed they could put up points, although Baltimore is now dealing with injuries to receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring), tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) and guard John Simpson (groin). All three missed practice time this week.
New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough was Louisville’s starter in 2024, eight years after Baltimore's Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy for the Cardinals.
“I’m a huge fan. I feel like he’s playing the game at such a high level that’s different than a lot of guys in the league. His ability to obviously separate and make plays, but he’s so under control, he can throw it anywhere on the field," Shough said. "It’s going to be a really good test for us.”
Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) has been a full participant at practice this week after missing Week 1. New Orleans ended up with 469 yards without him, but the Saints fell behind 21-0 in the third quarter before coming alive.
“We’ve just got to play better in the first quarter, simple as that," New Orleans coach Kellen Moore said. "We know where we’re at. We know where we’re going and there’ll be adjustments as we go.”
The Saints had the fourth-most total yards last week. Only Chicago (552) managed more than Baltimore's 506.
New Orleans (0-1) at Baltimore (1-0)
When/where to watch: Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
Latest odds: Ravens by 8 1/2
Against the spread: Saints 1-0; Ravens 1-0.
Last week: Saints lost to the Lions 31-30 in OT; Ravens beat the Colts 41-23.
Last meeting: Ravens beat Saints 27-13 on Nov. 7, 2022, in New Orleans.
Series record: Ravens lead 6-2.
Baltimore RB Derrick Henry against the New Orleans defense. It's the second straight week the Saints have to deal with a top running back after Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns against them. Henry had 144 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries against the Colts, but the Saints may be able to crowd the line of scrimmage a bit against a banged up Baltimore receiving group.
— Shough led the NFL with a career-high 410 yards passing last week to go with three TD passes.
— Saints WR Chris Olave caught 10 passes for a career-high 182 yards receiving in Week 1. Olave set career highs with 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine TDs in 2025.
— New Orleans edge rusher Chase Young was credited with a pass defensed in Week 1 after what initially had been ruled a sack and forced fumble for a defensive TD was overturned to an incomplete pass. Young had a career-high 10 sacks in 2025.
— Henry needs 98 yards to surpass Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (13,259) for ninth place on the NFL's career rushing list.
— The Ravens had an NFL-high 19 plays of at least 10 yards in Week 1.
— Minter can become the first person since the 1970 merger to produce 40 points in his first two games as a team's coach.
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