Kelvin Banks Jr. steps into the biggest challenge of his young career
There were high expectations when the New Orleans Saints drafted Kelvin Banks Jr., and he's lived up to those expectations from Day 1. He has received praise from former Saints offensive tackle, Terron Armstead. Banks carried his strong preseason momentum into the regular season. In his matchup vs Josh Sweat, he did a solid job of keeping him away from the quarterback.
Banks kept a clean sheet, giving up zero sacks, hits, and penalties. He finished his rookie debut against the Arizona Cardinals with an above average PFF grade of 69.1. Josh Sweat has proven himself to be a consistently dependable pass rusher, but the degree of difficulty skyrockets in week 2. He will have to go head to head with Nick Bosa for many snaps.
The Saints week 2 showdown at home vs the 49ers will highlight a fantastic matchup in the trenches between a first round rookie offensive tackle and an all pro edge rusher, who will be looking to give him a warm welcome to the NFL.
Kelvin Banks Jr. has been battle tested, but Nick Bosa is completely different challenge
There's an argument to be made that Banks is the most important player on the Saints this week. San Francisco is heavily hampered offensively due to injuries, so the defense will be vital for their success. Bosa has the ability to to take over and wreck a game. Pressures can turn into errant throws or even strip sacks that give the 49er offense a short field. Whoever has Bosa in front of them is one of, if not, the most important players on that snap.
Young offensive tackles often get baited into making mistakes against elite pass rushers, who thrive on exposing inexperienced rookies. Bosa is coming off a disruptive opening week outing, where he recorded 3 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. He is looking forward to carrying that momentum against the Saints young offensive tackles.
Bosa has been one of the premier pass rushers since entering the league in 2019. His elite physical traits and relentless motor have consistently allowed him to overwhelm offensive tackles. He’s a 5 time Pro Bowler, and a former Defensive Player of the Year, recording 63.5 sacks in 81 career games.
Banks was tested throughout his time at the University of Texas. Facing elite competition is nothing new to him, as he battled against former first round picks Will Anderson Jr. and Will McDonald. While those were impressive matchups, the professional level provides a different level of strength and competition.
Bosa poses an even greater challenge, and Banks will need to bring his A game to prevent him from wrecking the game. This matchup will be an early test, giving the Saints a glimpse of how promising their first round pick really is.
Courtland Sutton Challenges Broncos to Take Weight Off Bo Nix's Shoulders
The Denver Broncos emerged victorious over the Tennessee Titans, notching Sean Payton his first Week-1 win as the team's head coach. However, after making the playoffs last year, the Broncos are being judged on more than just the standings; style points have come into play.
The truth? The Broncos turned the ball over four times, not counting their 0-for-2 effort on fourth-down attempts, both of which resulted in a turnover on downs. Payton's squad was the only team to lose the turnover battle in Week 1 and still win the game.
"Last week teams were 8-1 when they won the turnover battle, and the one was us," Payton said on Wednesday. "You can’t live that way."
Bo Nix's performance is a big reason for the style-point critiques emerging from all corners of the NFL. The second-year quarterback didn't play well, though he had his moments, passing for just 176 yards and a touchdown on 40 (!) attempts, with two interceptions and a lost fumble.
Broncos' wide receiver Courtland Sutton had a decent day at the office, though, catching six of nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. Sutton's stat line would have been much higher, though, if Nix doesn't make some terrible throws his direction.
Nix missed Sutton on a botched fourth-down moonball late in the fourth quarter when he was literally wide open. Sutton is getting two touchdowns and eclipsing 100 yards on the day if Nix sees him. The ball instead went Marvin Mims Jr.'s direction.
Nix's lackluster first game of the 2025 season may have certain anxious segments of Broncos Country shaken, but not Sutton. Nix is a perfectionist, so when he turns in a sloppy game, Sutton helps the young quarterback guard against holding onto things too long.
"I love being able to look at [Nix] and say, ‘Hey, we got you.’ Things could be going great and we could be winning 50-0 and I’m like, ‘Hey, we got you,'" Sutton said on Wednesday. "He is a competitor. He challenges himself to be perfect. I tell you guys all the time, that is something you love to see from your quarterback. Someone who wants to be the best version of themselves because that is who they are. That is their character and competitive edge."
A Team Sport
Football is the ultimate team sport, and although Nix threw some passes and made some reads that he surely wanted back, the execution around him wasn't always ideal either. The Broncos' offensive line struggled to protect Nix against Tennessee's ferocious defensive front, while several receivers dropped passes.
Anxious fans and some sections of the local and national press may have their doubts about Nix now, but not Sutton. It's about the collective coming together and winning the day.
"It’s like a subtle, ‘Hey, we got you. It’s going to take all of us.’ Then we keep it moving," Sutton continued. "I think he understands, and he knows that, but it’s not just him. It’s all of us. We all need to be reminded now and again that the weight of the world is not on your shoulders; it is on all of us. We as a team go out there and perform to achieve a victory.”
Sutton's Keys to Victory
The Broncos did just that, defeating the Titans 20-12. Next up, the Broncos travel to take on the Indianapolis Colts, an opponent they defeated late last season. However, the Colts aren't led by Anthony Richardson this time; it's a possibly resurgent Daniel Jones.
The Broncos' offense has to find a way to get back on the horse, pardon the pun. Jones and company will find the Broncos' defense to be a much tougher row to hoe than the Miami Dolphins, but Nix, Sutton, and the offense have to do their part and score 24-plus points, at best, and not turn the ball over three times, at worst.
Sutton laid out his keys to the Broncos winning at Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time since 2017.
“The biggest thing is... not putting our defense in the situation that we put them in with putting the ball over. I think if we are able to control the line of scrimmage, control the time of possession, and take care of the opportunities of when we get into the red zone [with] scoring touchdowns and not just field goals," Sutton said. "That will help us as a collective be able to have a chance to come out with a victory."
Broncos head coach Sean Payton did not enter this season expecting to rely solely on his elite defense to win ball games. That mindset hasn't changed. After all, Nix passed for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns as a rookie, giving Payton a very reliable foundation to build upon in Year 2.
But the Colts get paid, too, and they'll be hungry for revenge after the Broncos helped end their playoff hopes last season. Armed with a new defensive coordinator in Lou Anarumo, the Colts are hoping for a different result this time around after the Broncos came alive in the second half of last year's action.
"[The Colts] have some good pieces over there. They played us hard last year, and they got a new [defensive] coordinator, but they have some similar pieces," Sutton said. "[They have] some new faces, but similar pieces. It’s going to be on us to have a great week of preparation, so we are prepared to go in there and play fast and continue this fast start.”
