The New Orleans Saints are in a transition period where Drew Brees is no longer QB and Sean Payton is no longer their head coach.
For the first time since 2006, neither guy will be a part of the Saints.
So, what is the outlook on the team for the 2022 season?
They have a new head coach, Dennis Allen, taking over the team.
To go along with the new quarterback, Jameis Winston.
Allen was a head coach before with the Raiders and things did not go well.
He had an 8-28 record in three seasons and was fired four games into his third year.
Then Allen became the Saints’ defensive coordinator in 2015 and help turned around what was a poor defense when he got there.
For Winston, the quarterback had plenty of chances to show he was the guy in Tampa Bay before leaving in free agency.
The biggest problem in his career has been the turnovers.
The former first overall pick has thrown 91 interceptions in 83 career games.
But, his turnover numbers improved drastically in his first season with New Orleans.
Before suffering a season-ending ACL injury, Winston played seven games throwing 14 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
2 weeks till we open the season in Atlanta!
A look at @Jaboowins‘s TDs from last season 🙌
📺: Saints at Falcons · Sept. 11 · Noon CT on FOX pic.twitter.com/7bE8BeoxOP
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 28, 2022
The success of Winston will be a key factor in how far the Saints can go.
Also, the Saints’ offense still has weapons.
Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Jarvis Landry give New Orleans some good skilled players.
Thomas is the most polarizing of the players because he has not played in two seasons.
But, the last we saw of him in 2019 he was amazing.
Adding Olave, was also a sign that the Saints want to give Winston all the weapons possible to have success.
Winning The South
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been the kings of this division over the past two years.
But, is this the year the Saints finally unseat them?
The Saints have had no problem beating up on the Bucs since Tom Brady has been there.
New Orleans has won all four regular-season meetings against Brady and the Bucs.
The Saints ‘D has authored 3 of the best performances in recent NFL history the past 2 yrs:
2020: 38-3 at Bucs
2021: 38-3 vs Packers
2021: 9-0 at BucsCombined stats for Tom Brady/Aaron Rodgers in 12 quarters:
• 63-114-6 A-C-I
• 185 ypg avg
• 0 TD
• 8 sacks
• 46.4 QB rtg— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) September 5, 2022
Their defense seems to have the secret formula in defeating Tampa Bay including shutting them out last December.
One issue for the Saints is that their offensive line is not great.
PFF ranks them as the 21st best unit in the league, and that could cause problems against a stout Bucs defensive line.
These two teams are far and away the two favorites to finish first and second in the division.
New Orleans added safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye to their defense.
Pairing them with Marcus Lattimore this secondary should be very good.
Both of these teams are in the top 10 of the easiest strength of schedule.
So, their matchups against each other could be deciding factors in the division race.
The Saints have what it takes to take down the Buccaneers.
Their roster is strong and like most teams, it will come down to quarterback play.
If Jameis Winston can limit his turnovers and throw the ball accurately the Saints have a chance at 10+ wins.
