3 New Orleans stats Philadelphia Eagles fans might find alarming

There’s much for the Philadelphia Eagles to consider as the Saints come to town.

For the most part, the 2020 NFL season has flown by, but there are moments that make one feel like Philadelphia Eagles‘ campaign will never end. It seems like it’s been two weeks since Aaron Jones sent that stake through the hearts of Birds fans on that 77-yard jaunt that put Week 13’s game away.

It won’t get any easier as Philly welcomes the high-powered New Orleans Saints to Lincoln Financial Field in Week 14. This one doubles as Jalen Hurts‘ first career NFL start. You already know that though. Here’s what may have slid past you from a statistical standpoint.

Okay, Philadelphia Eagles fans, let’s talk numbers.

Whenever the subject of the Saints comes up, we often mention Drew Drees. It’s hard not to. He’s had a pretty decent career if you haven’t heard. His return could be approaching, but it won’t be in Week 14. That means Philly gets Taysom Hill, and he hasn’t been a slouch either, even if some of you want to believe that he’s simply a scrambler.

In the meantime, we all know that football fans love numbers. Here are three stats related to the Saints that Birds fans might find interesting.

1. Hill’s 107 passer rating eclipses any rating Carson Wentz has posted all season.

That may seem like Carson Wentz when he’s down, but hey, he knows this already. His 15 picks lead the NFL, and he hasn’t registered a passer rating that has exceeded 100 all season.

Meanwhile, Taysom Hill has topped the 100 passer rating plateau twice in three weeks. Sure, that was two games versus the Atlanta Falcons, but they’re still an NFL team. If Philly sleeps on this guy’s arm, they’ll be sorry.

2. The Saints racked up 207 yards rushing and a 5.8 yards-per-carry average in Week 13. 

Brees might be out, but Alvin Kamara isn’t. The last time everybody checked, the Saints still seemed interested in making the trip to Philly and bringing Mr. Kamara with them.

Of the 207 rushing yards they racked up on 36 carries in Week 13, Kamara had 88 of them. Hill chipped in with 83 of his own. It would be really nice if Philly can rediscover that rush defense that was so impressive at the beginning of the season.

3. Michael Thomas looks to build on a nine-catch, 105-yard performance. 

The tests just keep coming for Darius Slay. After being abused by D.K. Metcalf and Davante Adams in consecutive weeks, Philly’s best cover guy enters another game versus a top-flight NFL receiver. This time, it’s Michael Thomas on the other sideline. Don’t give us that excuse about ‘Big Play’ being injured. It’s the NFL, and everybody is nicked up at this point of the season. That’s why Slay gets the big bucks.

As far as the guy he figures to be shadowing, here’s his stat line. So far in 2020, Thomas has hauled in 32 receptions for 354 yards in six games. If you’re a Birds fan, you have to hope he doesn’t score his first touchdown of the season on Philly’s troubled secondary. It will be tough, but this is a game the Eagles might be able to win.