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How many games will the Saints win in 2018? The crystal ball says ...

When you think of the New Orleans Saints, you usually think of their high-flying, record-breaking offense and flashy playmakers like Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram.
But the biggest reason the Saints have re-established themselves as playoff contenders in Year 13 of the Brees-Sean Payton era are the big guys inside.
The strength of the 2018 Saints will be in the trenches, where the club has invested heavily in recent years to fortify their offensive and defensive lines.
The Saints have selected four linemen in the first round of the past four NFL Drafts, two on each side of the ball.
The Saints used first-round picks to select defensive end Marcus Davenport and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins in the 2018 and 2016 NFL Drafts. Those two will team with Pro Bowl end Cam Jordan, another former first-round pick, to give the Saints their more prolific pass rush in years. If Davenport, Rankins and promising 2016 third-round pick David Onyemata realize their potential, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen won’t have to blitz as often to affect the quarterback.
On the other side of the ball, the Saints boast their best offensive line since the Super Bowl era. Recent first-round picks Ryan Ramczyk and Andrus Peat join prized free agent signee Larry Warford, left tackle Terron Armstead and center Max Unger to form a rock-solid unit equally proficient at run and pass blocking.
In all, the Saints have committed nearly a quarter of their 2018 salary cap to the offensive line. Only three teams have dedicated more money to the position in 2018 than the Saints’ $42.7 million.
It wasn’t that long ago that the Saints were trying to fill starting line positions with undrafted free agents like Bobby Richardson, Tim Lelito or Brian de la Puenta. Their starting units are now filled with high draft picks and prized free agent and trade acquisitions.
Football games are still won and lost in the trenches, especially in January when cold weather invades. The Saints are formidable along both lines, and these units, along with the ageless Brees, are the main reason New Orleans has a strong chance to defend its NFC South Division title and make another deep playoff run in 2018.

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One man’s prediction for how the New Orleans Saints will fare this season:

Sept. 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Saints couldn’t have picked a more ideal opening opponent. Journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to quarterback the Bucs in place of suspended starter Jameis Winston. The Saints have won nine of their past 12 games against the Bucs, including six of the past seven in the Superdome. This is about as close to a free square as you can get in the NFL. Saints 27, Buccaneers 16

Sept. 16: vs. Cleveland Browns
Amazingly, the Saints are 4-13 all-time against the Browns, their third-worst winning percentage against any NFL team. They have lost five of their last six to Cleveland, including their past three at the Superdome. That said, this one sets up well for the Saints. The Browns will be coming off an emotional home opener against their archrivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Something tells me the young Browns will struggle with their first road test in the hostile Superdome. The Saints start 2-0 for the first time in five years. Saints 26, Browns 17

Sept. 23: at Atlanta Falcons
The first road game of the season is a doozy. This will be the third consecutive test for the Falcons, who open at the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles and play the division rival Panthers at home the next week. A nail-biter seems likely. Six of the past nine meetings between the teams in Atlanta have been decided by a field goal. Falcons 30, Saints 27

Final analysis
Another 11-5 season should be good enough to tie Atlanta for the NFC South Division title and earn the Saints a home playoff game. But once again, the postseason road will be unkind to the Saints in January. The Packers eliminate them in the NFC Championship Game in Green Bay.

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