Before Week 1, many around the NFL believed the New Orleans Saints would be the worst team in the NFL, as seen from the rankings last week. Things could not get worse, even with a loss, but it seemed like the Saints needed to win to guarantee moving up in the rankings. Well, this past Sunday, New Orleans did not look like the worst team in the NFL, so let’s see if this improves their spot in the power rankings.
NFL.com – 32 (=)
“I don’t think Spencer Rattler did anything to lose the starting job, putting his team
in a position to tie the game or take a late lead before coming up just short versus Arizona. But Rattler also had 16 second-half incompletions against a less-than-fearsome pass rush from the Cardinals. Kellen Moore’s coaching debut was marred by 13 penalties, some curious clock management at the ends of both halves and a rare field-goal miss by Blake Grupe from just 37 yards out. The Saints’ defense gave a pretty good effort, especially in terms of pressure, but the tackling and gap control were issues in defending the run game and Kyler Murray as a scrambler. Was it worst-team-in-the-league bad? No, but someone has to be listed last.“
Pro Football Focus – 32 (=)
“Like the Browns, the Saints have muted expectations in 2025, but they absolutely played their role in Week 1 — even in a losing effort to the Cardinals. The road ahead looks bumpy, but there were positives. Veteran linebacker Demario Davis earned a 90.7 PFF overall grade in the loss, still playing at an elite level at 36 years old.”
Bleacher Report – 31 (+1)
“”The New Orleans Saints provided pretty much what everyone expected in Week 1.
The defense had some bright moments—its pass rush was particularly impressive—but it too often struggled to stop the Arizona Cardinals in key situations.
Alvin Kamara, Juwan Johnson, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed made impact plays, but the offense, as a unit, was limited by inexperienced quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Yet, there are reasons to believe the Saints can grow from here. They have enough veteran difference-makers to keep games close. If they can get more consistent play out of Rattler—or, eventually, second-round rookie Tyler Shough—the Saints will have chances to string together some wins in 2025.
—Knox”
CBS Sports – 32 (=)
“They showed some fight against the Cardinals and had their chances at the end. Playing close in games has to be what this season is about for this team.”
Sports Illustrated – 27 (+3)
“Kudos to Spencer Rattler, who continues to, if nothing else, absolutely throw fireworks late in games. I thought he had two of the best precision throws of opening weekend on the Saints’ final offensive possession—one to possibly set New Orleans up with goal to go and another in the end zone that should have been caught. I’m on the record as sympathetic of a kid whose life was altered by a documentary. I’m hoping he gets a new chapter with Kellen Moore.”
