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Take a look at what the Saints (2-4) are saying about the Seahawks (4-1-1) before the two teams meet in Week 8 at New Orleans.
Head Coach Sean Payton
(On what it will take to match up with the Seattle defense...) "They do a great job of keeping the ball in front of them, number one, and number two, they play with great technique. There's a lot of talented players. There's a culture defensively that's grown with confidence and they've done a great job. You see them contest receivers, you see them adjust their defense versus some odd ball sets. The game this past Sunday, when you watched it was actually, although it wasn't high scoring, it was enjoyable to watch because you recognize the battle of field position and the kicking game and then Seattle comes up with a blocked punt that puts them in position to tie the game. Those guys play outstanding defense now for a number of years. It's been a while but 2013 we played them twice. Monday night and then in the playoffs and they're always a tough opponent. Extremely difficult to prepare for."
RB Mark Ingram
(On the Seahawks defense…) "They're a great team, man. Lots of playmakers all over their defense. It's going to be a physical game. We're going to have to be able to be efficient, stay ahead of the chains, limit the penalties, no turnovers. Things like that will kill you against a defense of this nature, against a team of this nature who thrives on opportunities and turnovers. Just got to be efficient, got to stay ahead of the chains, and got to be patient."
(On what makes the Seattle defense what it is…)"First of all they have great players. Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Michael Bennett, just to name a few. Those are some elite players in this League and they do a great job for that defense. They all play well. Wagz in the middle, K.J. Wright, they've just got a sound core group of guys who are confident what they're doing and they play fast because they know what they're doing. They just have a great nucleus of guys that put them in good positions. They don't make a lot of mistakes."
(On if the Seahawks defense is the best he's faced in his career…) "Yeah, definitely man, I'd say that for sure they're probably one of the best defenses I've played. Just going there in '13, Monday night game we didn't play well, they beat the mess out of us. Then we had a good chance to win the game in the '13 playoffs, but we didn't pull it out. They're really good. They're really good. They're a No. 1 defense in the League not by mistake. They make a lot of turnovers, they play sound defense, and you've got to be patient against them, man. You can't kill yourself because they thrive off of that."
(On seeing Jimmy Graham in a Seahawks uniform…) "It's not something I'm fond of. I cheer for him every other game. I always hope he does well. I hope he has the best games ever. But it's going to be a little different seeing him in a Seattle uniform. But I wish him the best, man. That's one of my good friends. But it's going to be a little different being on a different team than him."
Get to know the faces of the New Orleans Saints' offensive and defensive units heading into the team's Week 8 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
New Orleans Saints defensive end Paul Kruger (99) on the field before a game against the San Diego Chargers played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/John Cordes)
Defensive tackle Tyeler Davison (95) of the New Orleans Saints watches play against the Atlanta Falcons October 15, 2015 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The Saints won 31 - 21 during a Thursday Night NFL football game. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New Orleans Saints nose tackle Nick Fairley (90) watches from the sideline during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The Saints defeated the Chargers 35-34. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) watches from the sideline during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The Saints defeated the Chargers 35-34. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New Orleans Saints Dannell Ellerbe (59) in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in Tampa, Fl.
(Tom DiPace via AP)
New Orleans Saints linebacker Craig Robertson (52) waits for the snap during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in San Diego, Ca. The Saints won the game, 35-34. (Greg Trott via AP)
New Orleans Saints linebacker Nate Stupar (54) stretches before an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The Saints defeated the Chargers 35-34. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New Orleans Saints safety Vonn Bell (48) on the field during the third quarter of a game against the San Diego Chargers played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/John Cordes)
New Orleans Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) lines up in the secondary during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The Saints defeated the Chargers 35-34. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) looks on during the 2016 NFL week 3 regular season football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 in New Orleans. The Falcons won the game 45-32. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New Orleans Saints defensive back Ken Crawley (46) on the field during the third quarter of a game against the San Diego Chargers played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/John Cordes)
New Orleans Saints cornerback B.W. Webb (28) on the field before a game against the San Diego Chargers played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/John Cordes)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) on the field during the second quarter of a game against the San Diego Chargers played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/John Cordes)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead (72) against the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL Game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in New Orleans, La. (Rick Wilson via AP Images)
New Orleans Saints guard Senio Kelemete (65) looks on during the 2016 NFL week 3 regular season football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 in New Orleans. The Falcons won the game 45-32. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New Orleans Saints center Max Unger (60) prepares to snap the football during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The Saints defeated the Chargers 35-34. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New Orleans Saints guard Jahri Evans (73) lines up in a three-point stance during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The Saints defeated the Chargers 35-34. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New Orleans Saints tackle Zach Strief (64) lined up in a two-point stance during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The Saints defeated the Chargers 35-34. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener (82) runs to the end zone in front of Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis (58) on a touchdown reception in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) runs with a pass against the Carolina Panthers in a week six NFL football game Oct. 16, 2016 in New Orleans. The Saints won 41 - 28. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
New Orleans Saints fullback John Kuhn reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead (6) looks on from the sidelines while watching the action on the playing field during a Week 13 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Sunday, November 30, 2014. The Saints defeated the Steelers 35-32. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
New Orleans Saints kicker Will Lutz (3) converts a 52-yard, game-winning field goal on the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers in a week six NFL football game Oct. 16, 2016 in New Orleans. The Saints won 41 - 28. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New Orleans Saints long snapper Justin Drescher (47) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
T Zach Strief
(On how difficult a test this week will be…)"Obviously if not the most, one of the most talented defenses in the NFL and there's really no holes. You look at defense and you generally kind of find a place to attack and these guys essentially force you to play your best game and there really aren't any holes. The front's good, the backers are as good as we see, and the secondary might be the best in the NFL. So it's a big challenge, we've played them before, we know exactly what we're getting ourselves into against them, and we're just excited to have them back here."
(On the Seahawks giving up six points in five quarters against Arizona…) "It's not the first time and not the last time that they'll put on that type of performance on the road. Look, they were on the field for 97 snaps. Ninety-seven snaps they were on the field. You watch that fourth quarter, you watch that overtime and those guys are still flying around. It's not just scheme, it's not just people, it's their effort, it's their intensity. It's the way that those guys play and that's a testament to them because 97 plays in this League is a lot of football."
QB Drew Brees
(On what makes the Seahawks defense so effective…) "They're extremely well coached. They really invented the scheme now that a lot of people are trying to replicate, but it's hard to do when you don't have that personnel. They're so good in so many areas, from the front four to the linebacker core to the secondary there's really not a weak link in the defense. So you just have to be your absolute best when it comes to execution and putting yourself in favorable positions as an offense. Making sure you're in third-and-managebale situations, making sure you're understanding how to handle pressure, and just making sure you get positive plays."
(On if it's possible the Seahawks are the best defense he's faced in his career…)"Yeah, I feel like I've faced some good ones. I've faced a lot of really good players and kind of different teams get rolling at different times. But these guys, over the last four or five years, I think it's rare to have a stretch of time where there's so much consistency on one side of the ball, not just in the players that are there, but just in their performance. It's been pretty remarkable."
(On seeing Jimmy Graham in a Seahawks uniform…) "Yeah, it's going to be weird. Obviously a lot of good years here with Jimmy. Hated to see him go. We were close and he was close with a lot of guys and we all love Jimmy. We understand that things like that happen in this League and I'm sure he's going to be pretty amped up to be back. Our fanbase loves him. They love what he did for New Orleans and did for our team, so there's a lot of love there."
(On former Seahawks center Max Unger's role with the Saints…)"Max has been as good as I ever could have imagined. Not only just his production, but his leadership ability and his toughness and the presence that he brings to the locker room and to that offensive line room and to our team. He's tremendous. He was voted a captain this year and that was an easy decision, easy choice, because he represents everything that you would want in a captain."
RELATED
The Seahawks face the Saints for Week 5 of the 2022 season at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Take a look back at photos from the past games between the two teams.
Kicker Garo Yepremian (1) of the New Orleans Saints attempts a field goal in 1979. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Floyd Turner (88) begins the celebration after catching the winning touchdown in the Saints Seattle Seahawks game on Sunday, Sept. 3, 1991 in New Orleans. Looking on is Seahawks James Jefferson (26). Turner took the pass from quarterback Bobby Hebert late the fourth quarter to give the Saints a 27-24 victory. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eric Allen (21) stops Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Joey Galloway (84) during NFL action Sunday Nov. 16, 1997 in New Orleans. Galloway took a pass from quarterback Warren Moon, making a first down on the play. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Seahawks' quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is sacked by Saints' defenders Charles Grant (94) and Willie Whitehead (98) during the second quarter on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at Seahawks' Stadium. Even through being sacked, Hasselbeck completed 12 of 23 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Seahawks over the Saints, 27-10. (AP Photo/Jim Bryant)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) throws against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004, in New Orleans as guard Steve Hutchinson (76) blocks Saints linebacker Roger Knight. Hasselbeck completed 19 of 29 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown in Seattle's 21-7 win. (AP Photo/Travis Spradling)
New Orleans Saints' Tebucky Jones (34), right, grabs the face mask of Seattle Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson (82) on a pass play during the second quarter at the Superdome Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004, in New Orleans. Jackson picked up 22 yards on the reception and the Seahawks picked up 11 yards more on the penalty to help set up their second touchdown of the quarter. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush (25) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks' Brian Russell during the first quarter of their NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
RETRANSMISSION FOR ALTERNATE CROP OF SEA163 Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) breaks away from a tackle by the New Orleans Saints defenders to score a touchdown in the second half of an NFL NFC wild card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2013, file photo, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril hits the arm of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees causing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett in the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle. The Seahawks finished the regular season as the best pass defense in the NFL with three All-Pro selections in the secondary. Their best performance came when they suffocated New Orleans in Week 13. Now comes the challenge of duplicating that in Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Saints. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund, File)
Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor (31) stops New Orleans running back Khiry Robinson (29) during an NFL Divisional Playoff game on January 11, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the Saints 23-15 in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) leaps for a pass just outside the end zone as New Orleans Saints cornerback B.W. Webb (28) covers as time expires in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. Kearse came down out of bounds and the Saints won 25-20. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Seattle Seahawks defensive group tackles New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) during an NFL regular season football game on Sunday, Sep. 22, 2019 in Seattle. The Saints won, 33-27. (Ric Tapia via AP)
