With a 4-1 record in the division and a 6-4 overall standing, the New Orleans Saints are quietly positioning themselves as a team to watch in the NFC. While their overall record might not scream “powerhouse,” their dominance within the NFC South tells a different story. The Saints have been handling their business where it matters most: against their direct competition.
However, their lone division loss came in a tough Week 6 matchup against the current NFC South leader, the 8-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints fell 41-27 in that game, a result that highlighted some areas for improvement. That loss, however, could serve as a motivational point for the Saints as they look to close out the season strong. Notably, they get another shot at the Bucs in the last game of the regular season, and the stakes could be even higher in that rematch.
Veteran quarterback Derek Carr has been leading the offense, with 26 touchdown passes on the season, but it’s the balanced attack that keeps them dangerous. Alvin Kamara has been the engine of the ground game with 582 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, while the defense, spearheaded by stars like Tyrann Mathieu (6 INTs) and Demario Davis (3 INTs), has been opportunistic and clutch in key moments.
The Saints’ ability to win tough divisional matchups is the key reason why they remain in the hunt for playoff contention. Though they lost to the Bucs in their first meeting, their 4-1 division record keeps them in the playoff conversation.
If the Saints continue to dominate their division and make the necessary adjustments in key games like their Week 18 rematch with the Bucs, they could surprise a lot of teams come playoff time.
