Saints’ rushing attack offers early evidence of a needed turnaround
New Orleans ran for 169 yards in its preseason finale, offering an early sign that its revamped ground game could address one of last season’s biggest weaknesses.
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints entered the 2026 season with a clear objective: fix a rushing attack that ranked among the NFL’s worst a year ago. Their preseason finale offered a promising first look at whether the changes can work.
New Orleans ran for 169 yards on 32 carries, an average of 5.5 yards per attempt, in a 27-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Saints also scored three rushing touchdowns, providing a sharp contrast to an offense that struggled to consistently move the ball on the ground in 2025.
The performance was particularly notable because two of the team’s most significant offseason additions were not on the field. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. and veteran guard David Edwards are expected to make their regular-season debuts when the Saints open against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 13.
That leaves New Orleans with reason to believe the improvement may not depend solely on its new personnel. The Cowboys game also offered evidence that the offensive system and the players already in place can produce a more effective running attack.
The need for improvement is substantial. The Saints finished 2025 with 1,603 rushing yards, averaging 94.3 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Those figures ranked 28th and 31st, respectively, in the NFL.
The preseason finale followed a difficult showing against the Los Angeles Rams the previous week, when New Orleans struggled to establish its ground game. Dallas, however, provided a more encouraging result, with the Saints controlling the line of scrimmage early and producing 119 rushing yards in the first half alone.
The Cowboys’ defense had allowed more than 120 rushing yards per game during the preseason, while the Rams had surrendered more than 130 per game and more than 5 yards per carry. Those numbers make the Saints’ performance encouraging, but not conclusive.
The real test begins in Detroit, where New Orleans will see how its new running back, revamped offensive line, and offensive system perform against a regular-season opponent.
For now, the Saints have something they lacked for much of last season: evidence that their investment in the ground game may be moving in the right direction.
