2013 New Orleans Saints Preview

2013 New Orleans Saints

Where do we begin with New Orleans Saints? They were 7-9 last season without Sean Payton leading the team and calling the offense, even though Drew Brees had another monster year. Most people expect that with Payton on the sidelines, the Saints will be in F-U mode and score 30+ a game on their way to winning double digit games again. I disagree with these people. While they will undoubtedly be torturous on offense, I think that Brees will continue to throw an uncharacteristic amount of interceptions, and they will be too one-dimensional. The New Orleans defense is simply atrocious, and even though the Saints will be able to win a couple of games by just outscoring people, I will guarantee they will also lose a couple because they won’t be able to stop their opponent from putting points on the board. The defenses in the NFC are fantastic, and New Orleans has to face the NFC West, which should put all four defensive units inside the top ten in the NFL. They have to play in Chicago, and face Tampa Bay twice with their new acquisition, Darrelle Revis. This team will be exposed, and I think Sean Payton will be on such a mission to try to light up the scoreboard that sometimes it will cloud his judgment. One thing is certain, though, on this team: as long as Drew Brees is healthy, there’s no reason why he won’t throw for about 5,000 and 35 TDs.

Schedule

Week 1: L vs ATL

Week 2: L at TB

Week 3: W vs ARI

Week 4: W vs MIA

Week 5: L at CHI

Week 6: L at NE

Week 7: Bye

Week 8: W vs BUF

Week 9: W at NYJ

Week 10: L vs DAL (Jones torches them in Week 1, now it’s Dez’s turn)

Week 11: W vs SF

Week 12: L at ATL

Week 13: L at SEA

Week 14: L vs CAR

Week 15: W at STL

Week 16:  W at CAR

Week 17: W vs TB

So I have the New Orleans Saints going 8-8 in 2013, and that’s only if they win their last three games, with two of them against quality opponents on the road. Bottom line: I do not think the New Orleans Saints will make the playoffs this season. I don’t think they will be horrible either, obviously, because they still have too much firepower to struggle that much.

Bold Prediction: Kenny Stills will finish the season as the second best wide receiver on the Saints, behind Colston.