SmashMouth

The obvious choice is 2009.

That was the only Super Bowl team in New Orleans Saints history. And they proved just how good they were in the playoffs by rolling through future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.

But if it's possible to just compare regular seasons, the battle for "best team in Saints history" is awfully tight between '09, 2011 and this current 2018 edition -- all of which finished 13-3 and led the NFL in point differential under the direction of coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees.



"At the end of the day, the 2009 team has to be the best team in Saints history -- right now, anyway," said former Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief, who retired last offseason and now serves as the team's radio play-by-play man.

But Strief admits it's "splitting hairs" and sounded more conflicted the longer we talked.

"Pure regular season, I'm taking '11. I think the 2011 team accelerated into the playoffs. And if that team had been better earlier in the year, we win the Super Bowl," Strief said of a team that still holds the NFL record with 7,474 yards gained in a season -- but entered the playoffs as a No. 3 seed and lost a 36-32 divisional-round heartbreaker at San Francisco.

"But I think that if this team gets on a run and wins the Super Bowl and plays to its potential, then I think that this probably is the best team we've had," Strief said. "The issue right now is that this offensive line has been so beat up [for the past several weeks] that it's kind of holding everything back.

"If this offense had maintained that type of production they had earlier in the year, then there's probably no question. I think this is the most complete team [Payton] has ever had. While that '09 team may have had more talent on defense, this is a better defense."

more from Triplett

SmashMouth

Closer Look at Three Saints Teams
Where each team has ranked in the NFL:

Point differential:
2009: 1st (plus-169)
2011: 1st (plus-208)
2018: 1st (plus-151)

Points per game:
2009: 1st (31.9)
2011: 2nd (34.2)
2018: 3rd (31.5)

Offensive yards per game:
2009: 1st (403.8)
2011: 1st (467.1)
2018: 8th (379.2)

Passing yards per game:
2009: 4th (272.2)
2011: 1st (334.2)
2018: 12th (252.6)

Rushing yards per game:
2009: 6th (131.6)
2011: 6th (132.9)
2018: 6th (126.6)

Points allowed per game:
2009: 20th (21.3)
2011: 13th (21.2)
2018: 14th (22.1)

Defensive yards per game:
2009: 25th (357.8)
2011: 24th (368.4)
2018: 14th (349.1)

Passing yards allowed per game:
2009: 26th (235.6)
2011: 30th (259.8)
2018: 29th (268.9)

Rushing yards allowed per game:
2009: 21st (122.2)
2011: 12th (108.6)
2018: 2nd (80.2)

Turnover ratio:
2009: 3rd (plus-11)
2011: T-19th (minus-3)
2018: 7th (plus-8)

spkb25

Good post! You know what stood out to me? We let up more ppg but are ranked higher in that category. I wonder if that has to do with how the game lends itself to the offense now???

westbankdaze

09 was the best team.

Papa Voodoo

The 2011 team was incredible. They would have won the Superbowl if Roman Harper could cover and Jenkins didn't have to cover the entire backfield alone. It was strange that in our first game against Carolina this year Harper was honored by the Panthers and then at the second game in new Orleans, against Carolina, the Saints honored him??? For what. He was a mediocre safety. Sam Mills I understand, but not Harper.

K Major

IMO the 2018 Saints roster is the more complete (off/def & s/t) team however the book on this season is still incomplete.

Brace yourself, they are coming for you in post season.

"Prove em right !".

Thirty3

This is the most well rounded team. I agree with KMajor. If O Line is healthy and rest of team stays healthy, we win the SB. Who Dat?!

SmashMouth

Absolutely... one can argue a missed opportunity in 2011 AND 2017. Maybe we cash in this year.

foreverfan

2009 team is proven. Enough said.