After starting 0-2, with their offense sputtering, defense getting torched once again, and supposed star offseason acquisition Adrian Peterson producing a total of 44 yards, it looked as though the New Orleans Saints were destined for a fourth straight disappointing season.
Six consecutive wins later, the Saints are leading the NFC South and the belief they have in themselves is now being shared by fans and analysts alike.
"I just think that we kind of knew what we had in the building," veteran receiver Ted Ginn Jr. told SiriusXM NFL radio about the winning streak. "With us coming out 0-2, we knew that that wasn't what we wanted to be, who we wanted to be.
"And we’ve just been breaking it down, day by day, week by week, game by game. And it’s just been going good for us."
As many teams have toiled in mediocrity this season, New Orleans has found ways to break away from the mold that has caused it to record three straight 7-9 seasons. These aren't the Saints that had to hide out in the Superdome and pass for 500 yards every week just to squeeze out a 35-32 win - these Saints have used new tactics to build a true Lombardi Trophy contender.
Rookies making racket
First-round cornerback Marshon Lattimore and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk have been asked to start since Day 1, and have both been graded as the best rookies at their respective positions by Pro Football Focus.
Lattimore looks like the shutdown cornerback the team has needed for a decade, and he's been aided by second-round safety Marcus Williams, who has allowed just three completed passes through eight games.
But perhaps the biggest change has been to the Saints' offense with the arrival of Alvin Kamara, whose early-season success persuaded the team to ship off future Hall of Famer Peterson.
Not just the Brees show anymore
With Kamara and Mark Ingram manning the backfield, the Saints's steady run game has taken some of the weight off the shoulders of Drew Brees.
Ingram's 541 rushing yards rank eighth in the league, fueling the team's seventh-ranked overall rushing performance. According to Football Outsiders, New Orleans has the third-most efficient offense in the league while attempting the 16th-most passing attempts per game.
Saintly schedule making
New Orleans has the chance to really prove it can survive the elements on Sunday in Buffalo with a win over the Bills in a cold-weather game, but after Week 10, it will experience very favorable conditions, playing either indoors or in warm weather.
| Schedule | Opponent | Opponent's record |
|---|---|---|
| Week 10 | at Bills | 5-3 |
| Week 11 | vs. Redskins | 4-4 |
| Week 12 | at Rams | 6-2 |
| Week 13 | vs. Panthers | 6-3 |
| Week 14 | at Falcons | 4-4 |
| Week 15 | vs. Jets | 4-5 |
| Week 16 | vs. Falcons | 4-4 |
| Week 17 | at Buccaneers | 2-6 |
Sunday's game carries extra importance as it serves as the only opportunity to prepare for a potential playoff game in Philadelphia or Seattle in January.
But while the elements will be friendly, the competition will not be. Only two of the Saints' upcoming opponents currently have losing records, but aside from a potential shootout with the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans is on track to be the favorite in every remaining contest.
Coaching counts
Aside from Sean Payton, the Saints coaching staff has been an inconsistent group, though removing five longtime staff members last January seems to have paid off.
New Orleans ranks 24th in offensive penalties and 26th in defensive penalties. The team lasted four games before allowing a turnover and sit tied for seventh in giveaways with a very balanced overall performance.
| Category | Rank |
|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 3rd |
| Rushing Yards | 7th |
| Total Yards | 2nd |
| Points | 6th |
| Passing Yards Allowed | 12th |
| Rushing Yards Allowed | 19th |
| Total Yards Allowed | 15th |
| Points Allowed | 9th |
Usually defined by being a pass-happy team that needs a roof over their heads to be at their best, the Saints are built to march - indoors or out.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
