2023 was a bigger disaster than many think...

Facts

Saints 2023 schedule was ranked the second easiest at .427

Let's look at Dennis Allen's "first winning season".

Saints went 9-8 thanks to wins against QBs Gardner Minshew, Tyson Bagent amd Tommy Devito.

Saints won 2 games thanks to wins against the worst team in football the Carolina Panthers who only won 2 games and by a whopping total of 4 points.

Vegas currently shows Saints are a favorite to go UNDER 7.5 (+100).


On to 2024.

The soft reset. With ageing players and an eye to the future, Saints have begun to wind down from their "win now" approach. Not saying it's right or wrong but it'll impact the roster.

2 of the 5 starting offensive lineman are in place. All others are unknows. Yes, Fuaga is likely to be a day one impact starter (maybe for the next 10 years) but behind him is more uncertainty. TBD on LT/RT, and LG.

Entirely new offensive system and staff. It'll take time to gel.

We're counting on big performances from old players. Cam Jordan. 35. Demario. 35. Mathieu. 33. Taysom. 34.

Will Chase Young pan out?

So many questions....

It's been said Saints have the second easiest schedule again this season. But they're factoring in playing 2 win Carolina and 7 win Atlanta twice.

Just look at the schedule and you'll find:

First 1/3rd of the schedule is brutal.

Second 1/3rd of the schedule they play 3 games in 14 days.

If they survive that gauntlet the final leg of the season follows a bye week and we COULD be in a decent spot for a playoff game.


I'm not being negative, I'm being realistic.