This unit is fueling Saints' unexpected hot start

New Orleans' retooled offensive line faced a difficult task Sunday against an elite Dallas Cowboys pass rush. However, the unit played superbly, allowing a sack, six pressures and one tackle for loss in the Saints' 44-19 blowout win.

With three new starters, including first-round rookie LT Taliese Fuaga, the line has looked elite in New Orleans' two wins.

QB Derek Carr has been sacked just twice, totaling two yards lost. His lone sack Sunday came early in the fourth quarter when Carr rolled out on a bootleg and scampered out of bounds.

Per Next Gen Stats , Carr has faced the NFL's third-highest blitz rate through two weeks. However, the 11-year veteran has been pressured at the fifth-lowest rate (23.8%).

The unit hasn't just delivered elite protection for its QB. Of RB Alvin Kamara's 20 carries against the Cowboys, 45% came with eight or more defenders in the box. Yet Kamara averaged 2.1 yards before contact on those carries.

No video can capture the impact of the offensive line better than that of guard Cesar Ruiz running nearly stride for stride with Kamara 57 yards down the field on his second touchdown.

There were concerns about how the offensive line would perform after losing former All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk for the season due to a lingering injury suffered in 2023. Media outlets including Sports Illustrated called the unit the "biggest issue" for the Saints heading into this season.

In his postgame news conference , Carr acknowledged the growth the offensive line has made on and off the field.

"(The fans) see the outcome, but they don't see the work they put in," he said. "The cohesiveness that they have and the bond that they have, the time they're spending together and the unity — I'm just really proud of them."

The Saints had five plays result in negative yardage on Sunday, three of which were the result of backup QB Jake Haener kneeling on the game's final plays.

New Orleans aims to continue its unanticipated hot start when it hosts the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.