clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

The 7-9 curse is broken and the New Orleans Saints are the team to beat in the NFC South

I hate to say it, but their record suggests... they are good.

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

I still remember the sweet times after week two when the Saints were winless. The 7-9 jokes poured like gross, sugary drinks on Bourbon Street. I miss those times.

The Falcons haven’t played the Saints this year, but New Orleans has gone on an almost impossible eight-game winning streak, with the help of their defense and two running backs that aren’t Adrian Peterson.

The NFL is weird.

I feel like I’ve been hearing the Saints would develop a strong run game every year since 2010. I can’t believe it finally happened. Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara have turned into one of the league’s top duos. Drew Brees has had a problematic season, but has been able to do enough, especially late in games. You can barely notice the loss of Brandon Cooks.

Dennis Allen has finally been able to do what no other coordinator has been able to do, and yes, I’m looking at you Steve Spagnuolo, Rob Ryan, and probably some other trash coaches I don’t even remember anymore. He made the defense good. I’m still not even sure how this is possible. Rookie corner Marshon Lattimore is the real deal, but otherwise I’m not sure how they have done it.

The Falcons obviously have an uphill climb as they are only in the hunt for a playoff spot. The offense looks to be back on track and the defense is slowly improving. If they want a chance at making the playoffs, it is going to go through New Orleans. They match up on December 7 and December 24, and it’s looking like Atlanta will need to win both to continue into the postseason.