The New Orleans Saints are entering the final stretch of the season with new momentum, winning two in a row under special teams coordinator and later interim coach Darren Rizzi. The team boundary seems to be night and day now that Dennis Allen is no longer there.
The question is whether the Saints can continue to build on this consistently, but their last two wins, the 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons and the massive 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns, were pretty convincing, and now they have also managed a bye week.
It will be important to keep an eye on how well the Saints recover from the for the rest of the season.
This is how we see the rest of the season for the New Orleans Saints:
Week 12 goodbye
August 23, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints helmets during the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams
November 20, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) is tackled by New Orleans Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss (55) during the second quarter at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
The Saints have improved greatly on offense since the start of the Rizzi era, but they face quite a test against an offense with as much power as the Rams'. It's going to be a lot more competitive than originally thought, and the Saints have a real chance of coming out on the right foot.
Prediction: Win (5-7)
Week 14 at the New York Giants
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 3: passes the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on October 3, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
The Giants were also a team whose name was in the of “worst team in the nation,” which the Saints recently took themselves out of the running for. New York, which most recently lost in overtime to Carolina (which was also considered one of the worst not long ago), has not done so.
Prediction: Win (6-7)
Week 15 vs. Washington Commanders
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 10: #17 of the Washington Football Team misses a pass while Marshon Lattimore #23 of the New Orleans Saints defends during the second half at FedExField on October 10, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
There's no question that the Saints have started playing complementary football the likes of which we haven't seen since the first two games of the season, in which they combined for 91 total points. But has continued to push for the rookie of the year award, and New Orleans won't be able to make the most of it.
Prediction: Defeat (6-8)
Week 16 at the Green Bay Packers
, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 27: Snow falls during warm-up between the Green Bay Packers and the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field on December 27, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Packers have had to play several close games recently and have managed to stay on the right side in the last four games in all but one, which was the 24-14 , which was also their biggest defeat represented loss margin in this period. Given the way Green Bay's has been at times this season and the Saints' secondary has looked questionable at times, Green Bay takes the win.
Prediction: Defeat (6-9)
Week 17 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 30: scores a touchdown in the second quarter when scored by Tre'von Moehrig #25 and Amik Robertson #21 of the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30 at Caesars Superdome will , 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Derek Carr meets his again here. Given the condition of both teams and how New Orleans could look positive in this contest from an injury perspective, the Saints should outperform in several facets and come away with the win.
Prediction: Win (7-9)
Week 18 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dec 31, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback (6) salute after the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
The Bucs have had their mistakes since their last meeting with the Saints, but let's not forget how disastrous that was. New Orleans couldn't keep up with a 51-27 loss. This will be a much closer game, but the Bucs win this one.
Prediction: Defeat (7-10)
