Remember when J.J. Watt said the Saints needed a new right tackle?

In 2015, the Saints lost 24-6 and failed to score a touchdown for the first time since before Sean Payton and Drew Brees arrived in 2006.

NEW ORLEANS — J.J. Watt said it in 2015.

This was the last time the Saints and Texans faced each other in the regular season.

Watt maneuvered and bulldozed his way around the Saints offensive line on one of the more difficult days in Zach Strief's remarkable career in New Orleans.

Just how bad was it? Well, Watt suggested the Saints might want to try using a somebody else at right tackle.

"I like Drew," Watt said during the game in reference to Saints quarterback Drew Brees. "I don't like hitting him like that."

The Saints lost 24-6 and failed to score a touchdown for the first time since before Brees and coach Sean Payton arrived in 2006. Watt reached Brees twice for sacks and once forced an intentional grounding penalty.

The Saints and Texans will open the season Monday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints also happen to have one of the best young right tackles in the league with Ryan Ramczyk in place.

The third-year pro has started every game he's played, sitting out only Week 17 finale last season because the Saints had everything clinched for the playoffs.

Ramczyk will be one of the keys to success for the Saints, but he won't be the only player charged with keeping Watt out of the backfield.

Payton described Watt during a media teleconference Thursday as an athletic and talented player who can work inside just as well as he can around the edge.

"He's got great stamina so you know you're going to be in a battle all day long," the coach said.

Brees surely doesn't have good memories from that game. He also isn't one to dwell on what happened four seasons ago when he enters this season-opening matchup.

His ability to keep focus on what's in front of him certainly is part of the reason he's been so successful this long, about to begin his 19th NFL season and as the career passing yards leader.

Brees will address media later Thursday, and he'll surely have plenty of praise for Watt and the Romeo Crennel-coordinated defense.

As for Payton, the Watt-Ramczyk matchup will be one of many important ones, he said.

It's also a matchup he hopes doesn't draw much attention during the game.

"If you're noticing it a lot during the game, you're probably noticing it more for the rusher than the protector, generally,” Payton said. “There are so many other elements to this game and this team. That's one. There are so many others."

If nothing else, the Saints would like to keep Watt from creating another viral video moment to start the season.