2019 Record - 13-3-0
Head Coach - Sean Payton
New Players in 2020 - Emmanuel Sanders (WR), Jameis Winston (QB), Michael Burton (RB), Malcolm Jenkins (DB),
Margus Hunt (DL), Deatrick Nichols (DB)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - Jason Vander Laan (TE), Cole Wick (TE)
OFFENSE - Drew Brees is back at quarterback for another season, his 15th in New Orleans and 20th NFL season. In 2019, Brees was injured and missed five games, but still passed for 2,979 yards with 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. Backing him up at quarterback is Jameis Winston (formerly starting QB in Tampa Bay) and perhaps Taysom Hill, who plays multiple positions on offense. Hill caught 19 passes for 234 yards and six touchdowns and also rushed for 156 yards (5.8 ypc) and one score.
Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray are the running backs. Kamara rushed for 797 yards (4.7 ypc average) and had five rushing touchdowns and also made 81 receptions for 533 yards and one touchdown. Murray had 637 rushing yards (4.4 ypc) and scored five touchdowns and had 34 receptions with one score.
The receiving corps is led by Michael Thomas, the best in the NFL right now. Thomas broke the NFL record for single season receptions in 2019 with 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Along with Thomas are Emmanuel Sanders (36 receptions for 502 yards and three TD with San Francisco and also 30, 367, two TD with Denver) and Tra'Quan Smith, who had 18 receptions, with five of them for touchdowns. The tight ends are Jared Cook (43, 705, nine TD) and Josh Hill (25, 226, three TD).
DEFENSE - Cameron Jordan (15 1/2 QB sacks) and Marcus Davenport (six sacks) play the ends and Sheldon Rankins (two sacks) and David Onyemata (three sacks) are the tackles on the defensive line. In reserve are Mario Edwards (three sacks), Troy Hendrickson (4 1/2 sacks), Malcom Brown and Shy Tuttle, who each had two sacks.
Kiko Alonso is the middle linebacker and is flanked by Alex Anzalone and Demario Davis, who had four quarterback sacks. In the Saints defensive backfield are safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Williams, who had four interceptions (one for a touchdown) last season. Also in the mix is D.J. Swearinger and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The cornerbacks include Janoris Jenkins, Marshon Lattimore, Patrick Robinson and Deatrick Nichols.
New Orleans allowed 333 yards per game in 2019, ranking eleventh in the NFL while giving up 21.3 points per game. The run defense ranked fourth overall (91 YPG allowed) and the pass defense allowed 242 yards a game. The Saints intercepted 13 passes last season and had a plus-15 (2nd in NFL) in turnovers and also had 51 quarterback sacks.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - After winning their third consecutive NFC South division title, the Saints bowed out in the playoffs without reaching the Super Bowl.
That isn't cutting it with this team and both Brees and Head Coach Sean Payton (who battled back from the COVID-19 virus this year) are determined to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2009 season. But it will not come easy, if at all.
The Saints offense scored 28.6 points per game a year ago and they ranked ninth in total offense, gaining 374 yards per game. The running game rushed for 109 YPG (16th in NFL) and the passing game averaged 265 yards per game.
As long as the offensive line gives good pass protection again (only 25 sacks allowed in 2019) Brees should be able to deliver to his talented receivers and light up the scoreboards. Add to that two solid running backs and Kamara's ability as well to be another receiver out of the backfield and that is a lot for opposing defenses to handle.
As long as they continue to force turnovers, the Saints defense is adequate, but the pass defense needs to improve this season as the Saints got torched by big plays last year. The run defense is solid and should continue to be barring injuries or COVID-19 problems taking away key members in the front seven.
It looks like it should be another winning season in New Orleans and a playoff appearance again, but this time the Saints want to avoid the letdowns of the past three years in the post-season and get back to the Super Bowl in what might well be the last one for Drew Brees.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - Tampa Bay
Week Two - at Las Vegas
Week Three - vs. Green Bay
Week Four - at Detroit
Week Five - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week Six - BYE
Week Seven - vs. Carolina
Week Eight - at Chicago
Week Nine - at Tampa Bay
Week Ten - vs. San Francisco
Week Eleven - vs. Atlanta
Week Twelve - at Denver
Week Thirteen - at Atlanta
Week Fourteen - at Philadelphia
Week Fifteen - vs. Kansas City
Week Sixteen - vs. Minnesota
Week Seventeen - at Carolina
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