2018 Record - 13-3-0
Head Coach - Sean Payton
Newcomers for 2019 - Latavius Murray (RB), Jared Cook (TE), Malcolm Brown (DL), Mario Edwards, Jr. (DL), Nick Easton (OL)
Keys on Offense - As always, the Saints offense begins and ends with quarterback Drew Brees, who is entering his 14th season in The Big Easy. Brees passed for 3,992 yards with 32 touchdowns and only five interceptions along with a ridiculous 74.4 completion percentage.
The two other main cogs are wide receiver Michael Thomas (125 receptions for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns) and running back Alvin Kamara, who rushed 883 yards (4.6 ypc average) and had 14 rushing touchdowns along with four receiving scores and also had 81 receptions for 709 yards. Additional players coming on board in New Orleans in 2019 include tight end Jared Cook (68, 896, six TD with Oakland) and running back Latavius Murray, who rushed for 578 yards (4.1 ypc) and six touchdowns with the Minnesota Vikings last season. Ted Ginn, Jr. provides depth at wide receiver.
Keys on Defense - Up front for the Saints will be DT Malcolm Brown, a free agent from New England, along with ends Cameron Jordan (12 QB sacks) and Marcus Davenport (4 1/2 sacks) and tackle Sheldon Rankins, who tallied eight sacks last year. Linebackers include Demario Davis, Alex Anzalone and A.J. Klein. In the secondary, four players each had two interceptions last season, including starting corners Eli Apple and Marshon Lattimore and safety Marcus Williams. Chris Banjo also snared two passes in 2018 as the Saints had twelve picks overall to go with 49 sacks.
The Saints ranked 14th overall (349 ypg allowed) but were supreme against the run allowing just 80 yards per game, which was second in the NFL. The pass defense lagged, ranking 29th by giving up 269 yards per game.
OUTLOOK - After two frustrating playoff exits the last two years, especially last season in the NFC Championship Game against the Rams in New Orleans, where they were robbed by a terrible non-call for pass interference in the red zone against the Rams defense in the closing minutes of the game, the Saints will be looking to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2009 season.
As long as the ageless Drew Brees continues to excel at quarterback, the Saints are bona fide Super Bowl contenders. Along with Head Coach Sean Payton, Brees led the NFL in passer rating once again last year and the Saints averaged 31.5 points per game, which was third in the NFL.
One big issue facing New Orleans as training camp began was the holdout for a new contract by All Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas. The Saints absolutely need to get him ready for the season because along with Brees and Kamara, Thomas is the vital third cog that makes the offense hum.
The Saints defense was decent a year ago, with a bend but don't always break approach, evidenced by their 14th overall rank in total yardage and points allowed (22.1) per game. As long as there are no major injuries to top players and Thomas is playing on the offense, the Saints should win another NFC South title with an 11-5 record and perhaps get to the Super Bowl for the first time in ten years.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1- vs. Houston
Week 2 - at LA Rams
Week 3 - at Seattle
Week 4 - vs. Dallas
Week 5 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 6 - at Jacksonville
Week 7 - at Chicago
Week 8 - vs. Arizona
Week 9 - BYE
Week 10 - vs. Atlanta
Week 11 - at Tampa Bay
Week 12 - vs. Carolina
Week 13 - at Atlanta
Week 14 - vs. San Francisco
Week 15 - vs. Indianapolis
Week 16 - at Tennessee
Week 17 - at Carolina
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