2017 Record - 11-5-0
Head Coach - Sean Payton
2017 Offensive Ranking - 2nd (391 ypg, 28.0 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 17th (337 ypg, 20.4 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Drew Brees is back for his 13th season in New Orleans after throwing for 4,334 yards last season along with 23 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.
The running back tandem of Mark Ingram (1,124 yards 4.9 ypc average, 12 TD) and Alvin Kamara (728 yards, 6.1 ypc, eight TD and 81 receptions, 826 yards and five TD) is perhaps the best in pro football.
The wide receivers include Michael Thomas (104, 1,245, five TD), Ted Ginn, Jr. (53, 787, four TD) and Cameron Meredith, who missed all last season with a knee injury. Also in the mix this season is rookie Tre'quan Smith (Central Florida). Benjamin Watson (61, 522, four TD with Baltimore) and Josh Hill (16, 125, one TD) are the tight ends.
DEFENSE - Cameron Jordan (13 QB sacks), Alex Okafor (4 1/2 sacks) and Hau'oli Kikaha (four sacks) are back on the defensive front, along with Tyeler Davison and Sheldon Rankins. Top draft pick Marcus Davenport (UTSA) will look to make an impact.
Linebackers include Demario Davis, A.J. Klein, Alex Anzalone, Craig Robertson (two interceptions) and Manti Te'o.
The secondary has Marshon Lattimore (five interceptions) and Marcus Williams (four INT) as well as Patrick Robinson (four INT with Philadelphia), Vonn Bell, P.J. Williams (two picks) and Ken Crawley. The Saints intercepted 20 passes last year.
OUTLOOK - After winning the NFC South last year and then losing on a miracle play to Minnesota in the NFC Playoffs, the Saints are chomping at the bit to make atone for the way the 2017 season finished.
Head Coach Sean Payton has a solid offense led by Drew Brees along with a pretty good defense that amassed 42 QB sacks and picked off 20 passes last year.
The running game will be without Mark Ingram (PED suspension) for the first four games, but rookie of the year Alvin Kamara burst onto the scene in 2017 and (barring injury) should have another banner season. The Saints have a very balanced offense and ranked fifth in the league in both running and passing.
Along with Atlanta and Carolina, the Saints made the playoffs and will likely battle those two teams again for the NFC South title.
As long as no key players are lost to injury for any significant amount of time in 2018, the Saints should once again be Super Bowl contenders. An 11-5 season is a strong possibility again as they look to move further in the post-season this time around.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1- vs. Tampa Bay
Week 2 - vs. Cleveland
Week 3 - at Atlanta
Week 4 - at NY Giants
Week 5 - vs. Washington
Week 6 - Bye
Week 7 - at Baltimore
Week 8 - at Minnesota
Week 9 - vs. LA Rams
Week 10 - at Cincinnati
Week 11 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 12 - vs. Atlanta
Week 13 - at Dallas
Week 14 - at Tampa Bay
Week 15 - at Carolina
Week 16 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 17 - vs. Carolina
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