After opening the NFL season with a loss, facing uncertainty at quarterback, roster issues, and an entirely new coaching staff, the odds are against the New Orleans Saints this season. Many expectations right now are for the Saints to be the worst team in the NFL, but this past Sunday, the team showed fight and nearly won the game. There were a good number of positive takeaways from the game, and if the Saints had held the penalty number down a bit, New Orleans probably would have won against the Arizona
Cardinals. If most of the games throughout the season can stay close, the Saints will have a chance to change the outside perspective of this team. One person who still believes the Saints could still make the playoffs is former Saints QB Drew Brees, and in an interview with DJ Siddiqi of RG.org, the future Hall of Famer revealed how it can happen:
“Win the division,” says Brees in a one-on-one interview with RG. “Why not? Who scares you in the division right now? Atlanta really should have beat Tampa. They missed a field goal at the end that would have tied it and sent it to overtime. Atlanta’s in a position where they’re trying to establish themselves with a new young quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. and you got Carolina trying to establish themselves with a young quarterback in Bryce Young.
The Saints are trying to establish themselves with a young quarterback in Spencer Rattler. Obviously, that was a heated competition with Tyler Shough this offseason the draft pick. Tampa is really the established one with Baker Mayfield having played so well the last couple of years, and them having won the division last couple years. But nonetheless, the division is wide open.”
The NFC South’s lack of strength in recent years has been the main reason why the Saints could stay competitive no matter the situation. A rebuild is something New Orleans has also tried their hardest to avoid, but the roster is getting closer and closer to that outcome. Still, like Brees said, the Saints could very well surprise everyone and win this division just based on how weak it is. Being the NFC South champion in Kellen Moore’s first year as head coach would do wonders for the morale, chemistry, motivation, and future of this team. In addition, whoever the quarterback is who leads the Saints to this potential division title would be the starter for next season. Is this outcome of a divisional title in 2025 likely? No, but can it happen? Absolutely.
