Defense Saved the Day in Saints’ Fifth-Straight Win

The New Orleans Saints’ defense deserves the credit for the win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 29. The Saints’ biggest liability over the last few seasons has been the reason that they have now won five games in a row. It has been a long time since New Orleans has been able to rely on its defense to help win games instead of worrying that it would let games get away. In fact, it was the offense that nearly lost the game, with running back Mark Ingram fumbling twice on consecutive positions in the fourth quarter, nearly helping Chicago get the win. Continue Reading

Saints Win Fourth Straight to Top NFC South

There is a surprise team sitting atop the NFC South standings this Monday, Oct. 23. Many fans might expect the Carolina Panthers or Atlanta Falcons to be leading the division, but instead, the 4-2 New Orleans Saints are the frontrunners just seven weeks into the season. New Orleans has bounced back nicely after losing its first two games this year. The Saints entered Sunday’s contest against Green Bay on a three-game winning streak but looked shaky early on at historic Lambeau Field. Continue Reading

Saints Win Third Game in a Row Over Lions

The New Orleans Saints are above .500 for the first time since 2013 and scored three defensive touchdowns in a game for the first time in team history. The Saints defense forced five turnovers in a 52-38 win over the Detroit Lions. New Orleans raced out to a 45-10 lead before Detroit got its offense going and made a potential blowout in a close game. After two losses at the start of the season, the Saints are on a three-game winning streak and are at 3-2 this season. The Saints have the potential to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Continue Reading

Saints Trade Peterson to Arizona Cardinals

It was becoming increasingly clear in the first four weeks of this NFL season who the odd man out was in the New Orleans Saints’ crowded backfield. Running backs Mark Ingram’s and Alvin Kamara’s abilities showed that Adrian Peterson wasn’t working out, and the Saints traded Peterson to the Arizona Cardinals in a move that could work out for both teams. New Orleans can now focus on splitting time between Ingram and Kamara without dealing with the need to carry the ball three ways. Arizona needed running-back help after an injury to running back David Johnson on Sept. 10. The “running back by committee” approach wasn’t working for the Cardinals, either. Continue Reading

Saints Place Strief on Injured Reserve

New Orleans pulled this season back from the edge of disaster. After two straight wins, the Saints are back at .500 with a 2-2 record, with the team on its bye week. The team has seen major defensive improvement in just two games but is still waiting for the offense to break out. One of the issues holding New Orleans back has been injuries to the offensive line. Starting left tackle Terron Armstead hasn’t played this season after having shoulder surgery in the offseason. Continue Reading

Saints Defense Leads Shutout of Dolphins in London

In two trips to London, England, the New Orleans Saints are 2-0 after a 20-0 win over the Miami Dolphins. The game started shaky for New Orleans after headset communication problems in the first quarter and the fact that the defense wasn’t as sharp as it had been a week earlier against the Carolina Panthers. Miami took the opening kickoff and started a methodical drive down the field using a mixture of running and passing plays. On a first-and-goal from the Saints’ four-yard line, Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler floated a pass into the end zone that Saints cornerback Ken Crawley picked off. The interception ended the best drive Miami put together all day long. Continue Reading

Injuries Could Prevent the Saints From Making a Turnaround

Somehow, someway a much maligned New Orleans Saints defense played its best game of the season despite several injuries. Rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore (concussion) and cornerback Sterling Moore (chest injury) both missed the 34-13 win over the Carolina Panthers. The Saints secondary was already missing cornerback Delvin Breaux to a broken leg. That same New Orleans secondary still managed to make three interceptions against Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Those were the first forced turnovers from the defense all season. Continue Reading

Saints Blast the Panthers to Earn First Win of the Season

After getting smacked around in the first two games of the season, the New Orleans Saints decided it was time to smack someone else around. That someone else just happened to be division rival the Carolina Panthers. Early on it looked like the game was going to repeat the same formula as the first two. The Panthers, who were behind their running game, quickly worked down the field on the New Orleans defense. The Saints defense made its first of many big plays on the day, as Carolina faced a third-and-four from the New Orleans eight-yard line. Continue Reading

Brady and the Patriots Destroy Brees and the Saints

For the second week in a row, the New Orleans Saints defense found itself overmatched. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots took control of the game and left little in doubt by halftime. Brady had one of the best passing games for a 40-year-old in NFL history, as he outdueled his counterpart, Saints quarterback Drew Brees. The future Hall of Fame quarterback finished the day with 447 yards passing on 30 of 39 attempts with three touchdowns. Brees, a future Hall of Famer himself, dealt with nearly constant pressure, and receivers dropping passes plagued him. Continue Reading

Minnesota Dominates New Orleans on Offense and Defense

Slow starts have been a major problem for the New Orleans Saints over the last three seasons. The team hasn’t won a season opener since 2013. It shouldn’t be shocking to learn that the Saints also have not made the playoffs since that campaign. New Orleans started 0-2 in 2014, and 0-3 in 2015 and 2016. All three years, the team has finished with a 7-9 record. Continue Reading