NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
2021 Record - 9-8-0
Head Coach - Dennis Allen
New Additions - Andy Dalton (QB), Jarvis Landry (WR), Tyrann Mathieu (DB), Daniel Sorenson (DB), Marcus Maye (DB), Kentavius Street (DL)
Offensive Rank in 2021 - 28th (305 YPG); Scoring - 19th (21.4 PPG)
Defensive Rank in 2021 - 7th (318 YPG); Scoring - 4th (19.7 PPG)
As long as he stays injury free, Jameis Winston will be the Saints starting quarterback. Last season, in seven games, Winston passed for 1,170 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions while also rushing for 166 yards (5.2 YPC average). The team brought in Andy Dalton to provide depth just in case. Dalton (with Chicago last season) passed for 1,515 yards with eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. Taysom Hill is another option at the position, though he mostly plays running back and a slot wide receiver position. Hill ran for 374 yards last season (5.3 YPC) and scored five times. Alvin Kamara (who could still be suspended by the league for potential off the field violations) is the key man in the offense. The sixth year running back gained 898 rushing yards (3.7 YPC) and scored four times while also hauling in 47 receptions for 439 yards and five touchdowns. Mark Ingram II (260, 3.8 YPC, one TD) provides depth in the backfield. Michael Thomas is back at wide receiver after missing last year with an ankle injury. He set the NFL record for receptions in a single season three years ago and is joined by Marquez Callaway (46, 698, six TD) and Jarvis Landry (52, 570, two TD with the Browns). Tre'Quan Smith (32, 377, three TD) and top rookie pick Chris Olave (Ohio State) are other options. Adam Trautman (27, 263, two TD) is the tight end.
Cameron Jordan (12 1/2 QB sacks) and Marcus Davenport (nine sacks) lead the way on defense for New Orleans, which had a plus-seven turnover ratio along with 46 sacks and 18 interceptions. Linebacker Demario Davis led the team with 105 tackles and the secondary gets Tyrann Mathieu (three interceptions with the Chiefs last year) coming over and he will team with corners Marshon Lattimore (three interceptions), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (three INT) and Paulson Adebo, who also had three picks and also safety Marcus Maye and P.J. Williams are on hand.
Outlook for 2022 season - The Saints made a big change as Sean Payton stepped aside after 16 seasons and the new Head Coach is now Dennis Allen, who had a brief run in that role with the Oakland Raiders about a decade ago. The main concern for the new coaching staff will be avoiding injuries to key players like Winston, Thomas and Kamara.
The Saints strength is their defense and they can wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks and they also stop the run on a regular basis, last season allowing just 93.5 yards rushing per game. Avoiding giving up big plays is another area to improve and getting the 'Honey Badger' (Mathieu) in the secondary should help as he has a knack for making big plays on defense. On the other hand, in today's brand of football, teams have to score points and the Saints were challenged last season on that side of the field, averaging just 21.4 points per game. As long as Kamara can do his thing and Thomas shows the form from past seasons, the team should be better in that area.
The Saints play in the NFC South division and the big dog there is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But New Orleans swept the Bucs last season, including a shutout late in the regular season. At the same time, they split their games with Atlanta and Carolina. With a new regime taking over in The Big Easy in 2022, things will need to go just right for the Saints to win the division, but they could be in contention for a wild card playoff spot this season.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Atlanta
Week Two - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Three - at Carolina
Week Four - vs. Minnesota (in London, England)
Week Five - vs. Seattle
Week Six - vs. Cincinnati
Week Seven - at Arizona
Week Eight - vs. Las Vegas
Week Nine - vs. Baltimore
Week Ten - at Pittsburgh
Week Eleven - vs. L.A. Rams
Week Twelve - at San Francisco
Week Thirteen - at Tampa Bay
Week Fourteen - BYE
Week Fifteen - vs. Atlanta
Week Sixteen - at Cleveland
Week Seventeen - at Philadelphia
Week Eighteen - vs. Carolina
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