Another win for the New Orleans Saints, but until the end of the game, it was a bad performance from the offense. This may keep the Saints from jumping higher in the power rankings.
NFL.com – 23 (+5)
“I’m asking Saints fans to stick with me through this. This ranking, which is still below the team New Orleans just defeated, is not me simply being a hater. I am taking into account the surrounding circumstances of the game, the ugliness of it (until the final few minutes of regulation and overtime) and the larger picture.
This was a win the Saints desperately needed, a triumph in which they finally ran the ball with some emphasis, but it’s not going to vault them up into the top half of the rankings. They’ll need more than one of these for that to happen.“
Fox Sports – 23 (+3)
“The Saints really needed that win over Cleveland coming out of their bye week, no matter how squeaky it was. They’ve now beaten the Browns and Giants — think of them as two mid-majors — over their last three games. And while the Saints haven’t looked great, they’ve got a golden opportunity to take a measure of control in the NFC South when they play the Panthers in New Orleans on Sunday. In a division where eight wins will likely be enough, every division game matters.“
Bleacher Report – 23 (+5)
“The New Orleans Saints came out of their bye with a more aggressive mindset.
New Orleans’ defense generated pressure on nearly 48 percent of the Cleveland Browns’ dropbacks Sunday, according to NFL Next Gen Stats (h/t Daniel Oyefusi). The Saints blitzed 45 percent of the time. Some of this approach is due to facing Shedeur Sanders after the quarterback made certain remarks during the practice week. But New Orleans also failed to close during multiple games this season.
In fact, Cleveland nearly made a comeback during this latest outing. However, the Saints will be far better off by remaining aggressive to try and dictate terms after three one-score losses through the first eight games. — Sobleski”
CBS Sports – 23 (+3)
“They beat the Browns on Sunday to get their third victory, which ties them for first place. They face a big one this week with Carolina. Can you believe that?”
Sports Illustrated – 23 (+3)
“I do love that some Saints fans, amid the internet’s seedy underbelly, are taking Harold Fannin’s rumbling touchdown from Sunday as evidence of a choreographed phony and not—as they should—that the Saints just can’t tackle.”
