ClintSaints

Any reasonable person would agree that four complete games is a decent sample size by which to judge a football team's overall effectiveness. Well, obviously 16 games is a much better sample size, but as the first quarter of the NFL season came to a close last night in the Crescent City, the New Orleans Saints defense established itself as one of the most menacing units in the league.

Currently, we rank 6th in total defense and 5th in scoring defense. This represents a slight dip from the previous week's rank of 4th in total defense. Our rank in scoring defense remains unchanged.

Here are some other rankings to consider:

Sacks per game: tied for 12th with 3 sacks per game (In 2012 we were very near the bottom with an anemic 1.9 sacks per game)

Opponents third down conversion percentage: 10th place with 34.78% (an improvement over the 38.46% from 2012)

Takeaways per game: 7th with 2.5 per game (in 2012 we were tied for 13th with 1.6 per game)

Total offense: 4th (up from 6th last week)

Scoring offense: 8th (a big jump from 16th just last week)

I sure hope we can continue the momentum against the Chicago Bears next week. Chicago is tied for third in allowing the fewest sacks per game (1.5). The Saints have allowed twice as many sacks per game. Hopefully, we will be able to rattle Cutler and protect Brees on Sunday.