Saintswrath

CHICAGO (AP) — The exorcism is nearly complete.

Spooked as the New Orleans Saints were — top to bottom — at this time a year ago, ‘‘Bountygate’’ seems like little more than a bad dream now.

After a businesslike 26-18 victory over Chicago on Sunday, New Orleans is at 5-0, instead of last season’s 1-4 start, and still among the fast-thinning ranks of unbeatens in the NFL. Drew Brees is off to another scintillating start, Sean Payton is back in charge, and if reuniting one of the best quarterback-coach duos in the league wasn’t intimidating enough, well, the Saints are suddenly boasting a top-five defense to boot.

Most of the credit for that last development belongs to Rob Ryan, the son of bona fide defensive genius Buddy Ryan, and the less-well-groomed twin brother of Jets coach Rex. Rob Ryan was calling the shots for Dallas’ defense last season, and the emergence of Cameron Jordan and Junior Gallette along the Saints’ defensive front, along with rookie Kenny Vaccaro in the secondary, made his move to New Orleans look downright prescient.

But there’s no doubt up and down the roster who has made the biggest difference in the Saints’ fortunes this time around — even if Payton’s players find it hard to say exactly why.

‘‘Coach understands the temperature of this team, when to turn it up and when to dial it down,’’ veteran corner Jabari Greer said.

‘‘Last year,’’ Brees said, ‘‘everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. ... It hasn’t been perfect, but ...’’

‘‘I can’t quite put my finger on it, either. But if I had to guess, I'd say Coach Payton’s attention to detail is,’’ and here tackle Charles Brown paused to find the right word, ‘‘contagious.’’
Read full: Column: Saints' exorcism of 'Bountygate' complete - Football - Boston.com

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