The Baltimore Ravens should be looking to make a statement in Week 2. It’s the first game in front of the home crowd for Jesse Minter and company, and after a standout showing in Week 1, they have a great shot to keep the momentum going against an inconsistent New Orleans Saints squad.
Still, Tyler Shough and the Saints offense can be dangerous at times. And seeing the talent scattered around their side of the field and Shough’s passing tendencies, Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith might be due for a big game.
After an underwhelming 2025 campaign, Smith bounced back in the best way possible. He was dominant in the team’s Week 1 win, tallying 11 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 interception, and a 91.4 Pro Football Focus grade.
Against the Saints, Smith will have a lot on his plate once again.
Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith faces a challenging Saints offense in Week 2
The Saints don’t have a dominant offense by any means. They finished the 2025 campaign with the 10th-fewest yards per game. Ever since Tyler Shough took over, though, they’ve been a unit to watch.
The Shough-led offense can unlock explosive plays when they need to. You saw it last week against the Detroit Lions, where they went for 469 total yards and put 30 points on the board before losing in overtime.
So what makes this a Roquan Smith-centric game for the Baltimore defense?
It starts where Shough is most comfortable throwing the football: over the middle of the field. As a rookie, Shough was relentless in that zone, consistently completing passes in between the hashes.
That’s where he was at his best in the season opener against the Lions, too. He had a rough start to that game, but once he got into the swing of things, he had the Lions feeling uneasy. He went 35-for-56 for 410 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
And while the Ravens eventually adjusted, their opening-drive defense against the Indianapolis Colts last week was extremely leaky over the middle. Smith will need to get his teammates lined up correctly and make sure Shough can’t find a rhythm there.
Besides Shough, three Saints weapons can pose a major matchup for Smith: running back Travis Etienne and tight ends Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant.
After signing Etienne to a four-year, $48 million contract in free agency, New Orleans is looking to make him a feature part of their offense. He only took 9 carries for 46 yards in Week 1; they’ll hope Week 2 has something different in store.
Etienne can also be a threat as a pass catcher. Over his five-year career, he’s caught 175 passes for 1,370 yards, and seven of those came last Sunday. Smith will likely be used as a force to limit that production.
The Saints tight ends can be a problem, as well. Specifically, it’s their athleticism that makes them a bit of a different issue. They started their 2026 seasons off on the right foot, combining for 7 receptions, 87 yards, and 2 touchdowns in Detroit.
The biggest challenge might be their route-running ability. With their size and athleticism, they can find ways to get open better than your usual tight end.
On Thursday, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey talked about those exact traits.
“Their tight ends can block, but they also run routes really well,” Humphrey said.
That should be a position group the defense hones in on, and in addition to safeties Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, and Jaylinn Hawkins, Smith should play a significant role in stopping the duo.
Of course, it’s not do-or-die for Roquan Smith to show out again. Baltimore can take care of business even if the veteran linebacker’s play lags behind a bit. Still, if they want their best shot at winning, they need Smith to make yards in the middle of the field, and second-level hard to come by.
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