Yes. The team will most likely be dead without him, unless the defense suddenly has the ability to remain healthy and carry the team ... just as they did during that 5-0 stretch. Don't worry, I'll be there predicting a 19-0 season every season, but my real expectations will be far lower than they have been for the past decade and a half.

Be careful what you wish for. You mat get it.

Predictable response. If Drew is playing, he's carrying the team. If he's not playing, and the team is winning, the defense is carrying the team.

With all due respect, the correct answer is the TEAM wins games. When Drew was still in his prime, but the defense was bad, the team went 7-9 a bunch of times, and 8-8 once. If you're going to win, you need to have a good team. That should be plainly obvious to any reasonable observer.

Did the defense carry the Saints against the Bucs the first time? No. Did they carry the team against Chicago? No. Seattle? No. In all of those games there was a combination of offense, defense and special teams. When Drew came back, did they score more points? If they did, it was negligible. Did they have a better winning percentage? No. The offense needed a couple of weeks to find it's bearings after Drew went down, and once it did, it was on a roll. They found a new identity. One very similar to what the Titans used to go from 2-4, to one game short of the Super Bowl.

I'd say the Saints definitely have more talent than Tennessee, and if they could figure it out with Tannehill, I think the Saints can do better. When Drew came back, the team went back to playing unbalanced offense, and a lack of consistent ball control.

Be careful what I wish for? What is it you believe I'm wishing for? Drew is declining. I should want to stay on a sinking ship, shoveling water out by hand, while the ocean swallows it up? No. This team has talent. It can win with decent QB play, but it's not likely to get over the top. Start developing someone now, rather than flaming out with an aging QB, with no plan for the future.

As long as that aging QB is better than the alternative I want him out there. It is your prerogative to feel differently. I just don't want to hear your *****ing about QB play post Brees.

The aging QB did not prove, this year, to be better than the alternative who immediately stepped into his place.

You don't want to hear my "*****ing" about QB play post Brees? You already don't want to hear any dissenting opinion about QB play, present Brees. Plain and simple, you just don't want to accept reality regarding Brees. And that is YOUR prerogative. But you don't have any facts to support your assertions.

After Brees returned to the staring lineup we lost FOUR of our eleven defensive starters. That's over 36% of our starting defensive lineup. Kiko Alonzo, Anzalone, Rankins and Davenport. That wasn't on Brees.

Anzalone was already done by week two. Did the injuries on defense effect the Saints offense against the Falcons? Did it effect them against the Vikings?

No one's saying Drew lost those games by himself. The point is that he didn't elevate the play of the team upon his return. The offense, as a whole, was not more efficient.

Are you serious? Did you see the stat comparisons between Brees and Bridgewater this season. Teddy didn't play near as efficiently as Brees. He was the recipient of the defense at its healthiest playing out their asses. Brees outplayed Bridgewater in virtually every category. I gave you those facts.

Reposted here:

In 2019 Brees averaged more yards per attempt (7.9 to 7.1), more yards per completion (10.6 to 10.4), double the touchdowns per attempt (7.1 to 4.6), better completion percentage (74.3 to 67.9), far higher QB rate (116.3 to 99.1), much higher QBR (74.2 to 45.0), and much lower sack percent (3.1% to 5.8%) than Bridgewater. And these are just a few of the stats where Brees clearly outperformed Teddy.

And I suppose you're going to conveniently ignore what I said about the offense needing a couple weeks to find it's bearings after Drew went down?

Sean wouldn't even allow Teddy to attempt anything beyond 15 yards. He was scared to let him play, because he hadn't started a meaningful game in three years. Once the training wheels started to come off, the offense was efficient, and so was he. Was he a star? No. I'm not in favor of him as the heir apparent, as I think his ceiling is limited, but his floor is good enough that we don't really take a step back from Drew, at THIS stage of his career.

That's why I'd look to draft a QB now, and let him sit behind Brees for what will likely be his last year.

And what were those three games after the "training wheels" came off? Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Chicago. Three subpar teams. Woohoo!

Bridgewater is definitely a step back from Brees at this point in both of their careers. If you couldn't see that from their play on the field you weren't watching closely.