OLB Brian Burns
We could have gone with any of the top three outside linebackers here, but after his torrid start to the season, Brian Burns gets the nod. Burns has at least one sack in each game this season, while his five sacks have him tied for the most in the NFL. The veteran picked up four quarterback hits of Justin Herbert, one behind Abdul Carter for the most on the team, to go with seven total pressures (also one behind Carter for a team high).
The pass rush was able to get pressure on 47.7 percent of Herbert's drop-backs, and on those plays, the quarterback completed only five of 19 attempts for 80 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Over the last three games, Burns has picked up 18 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. He now has 20 pressures on the season, putting him on pace for 85 on the year, which would beat his previous career-high of 68 set in 2022.
"He's done it since OTAs," Daboll said about Burns' performance this year. "The effort that he's displayed out at practice, the leadership, not just the vocal leadership, but how he goes about his business. I'm not surprised with some of the things that he's done this year because he shows it out here every day, and he's done it since OTAs. He's had a really good camp. I just remember showing a bunch of clips with him over and over every day of this is the type of effort and the standard that we need to play with, and we're going to need to continue to get that from him. He gives everything he has every game he's out there. He's a talented player, and again, we need him to be that way for us."
"He means a lot," Carter added about Burns' influence. "Ever since I got here, like in training camp, you see the way he practices, the way he goes about his business. It all shows up in the game, so we look up to him a lot."
CB Dru Phillips
Dru Phillips bounced back from a down game in Week 3 to have perhaps the best performance of his young career this past weekend. Phillips had a career-high four pass breakups, including his second interception of the season, to go with two solo tackles. The slot corner was able to return his interception 56 yards the other way to set up Dart's touchdown pass to Johnson.
Herbert targeted Phillips in coverage seven times in Week 4, of which only two were caught for 10 yards. The 23-year-old earned a passer rating against of 0.0, forced three incompletions, and did not have any penalties called on him. Heading into Week 5, Phillips leads the NFL with eight passes defensed, while his two interceptions are only one behind Chicago's Kevin Byard and Jacksonville's Devin Lloyd for the most in the league. Phillips has already beat his rookie numbers of one interception and one pass defensed, while his 22 total tackles, including two tackles for loss, put him on pace to beat those marks, as well.
PFF recently named Phillips their secret superstar in Week 4.
For at least some of Sunday's game, Phillips will match up against Saints wide receiver Chris Olave. The 25-year-old wideout has lined up in the slot 37.1 percent of the time this season and leads the team with 26 receptions, which he's taken for 185 yards and a touchdown. Phillips could see plenty of tight end Juwan Johnson, as well, as the veteran has lined up in the slot on 48.2 percent of his snaps. The tight end is second on the team with 22 receptions, but his 204 receiving yards rank first.