Most players entering big games try to downplay the significance. So, the words of Marshon Lattimore were a breath of fresh air on Friday. The former Saints Pro Bowl cornerback will make his Commanders debut on Sunday against his old team in New Orleans.
Asked whether Sunday’s game (1 p.m. ET, FOX) means more because it’s in New Orleans, Lattimore left no doubts.
“Of course. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t,” said Lattimore, traded from the Saints to Washington on Nov. 5. “It’s like, they trade me away and I’m going back to see them. Like I said, I’m glad; I’m happy where I’m at but you know. Extra motivation for the game, that’s all.”
In a serendipitous development, Lattimore injured his hamstring in a road loss to the Chargers on Oct. 27. Traded a week later, Lattimore has seen his Commanders debut delayed until Sunday at the Caesars Superdome, the game he circled on his calendar when he arrived with in Washington.
But he’s not the game’s only player preparing for a revenge game. Saints defensive end Chase Young began his career in Washington as the franchise’s first-round selection (No. 2 overall) in the 2020 draft. After three-plus seasons, the Commanders traded Young to San Francisco a year ago. Having signed with the Saints as a free agent before the 2024 season, he gets his second shot at the Commanders this week.
In Week 17 last season, Young lined up back in Washington when the 49ers claimed a 27-10 victory on their way to a Super Bowl berth.
Both Lattimore (2017) and Young (2020) were NFL Defensive Rookies of the Year for their original teams. Young helped his club to the playoffs as a rookie then underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL late in his second season. The grueling rehab kept him off the field until late in 2022. Young has 3½ sacks this year for the Saints.
Sunday’s game is a critical conference tilt for both teams. Washington (8-5) is clinging to the NFC’s final playoff berth. The Commanders still control their own fate but a loss would strip them of that luxury, especially after the red-hot Rams (8-6) beat San Francisco on Thursday night. A victory also would improve the Commanders’ NFC record to 6-3, giving them a big advantage should they need to break potential ties with the Packers, Rams, Falcons or Cardinals and guarantee their trip to the postseason.
New Orleans, meanwhile, is 5-8 overall but 3-1 since interim head coach Darren Rizzi took over. The Saints earned a gritty, 14-11 win last week on the road against the Giants. Bryan Bresee blocked a potential game-tying field goal on the last play of regulation.
Jake Haener is expected to start in place of an injured Derek Carr, becoming the eighth quarterback to start for the Saints since Drew Brees retired following the 2020 season. The list includes Carr, Ian Book, Andy Dalton, Taysom Hill, Spencer Rattler, Trevor Siemian and Jameis Winston.
For more information on the Commanders and Saints, visit the Washington and New Orleans team pages at ProFootballPost.com.
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