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New Orleans Saints: Ranking each team in the 2019-20 NFL Playoffs

By Daniel Benitez

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 06: Detail photo of NFL 100 game football during the game between the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Bank of America Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 06: Detail photo of NFL 100 game football during the game between the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Bank of America Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints

New Orleans advanced to the postseason and won the NFC South for the third straight season.

But the Saints are as determined as ever to win a Super Bowl Championship.

After the “Minneapolis Miracle” in 2017 against the Minnesota Vikings, the Saints look forward to getting some sort of redemption on Sunday at 12:05 p.m.

And of course the infamous no-call from last season fuels the fire even more, despite the Los Angeles Rams sitting at home this postseason resting from a Super Bowl hangover.

They want no excuses and nothing to stand in their way of another Lombardi Trophy, a decade after their first one in Super Bowl XLIV.

When quarterback Drew Brees got injured in Week 2, backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater stepped in and led the Saints to five straight wins.

The offense unleashed wide receiver Michael Thomas, as he hauled in 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns.

He shattered Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison‘s record for single-season receptions (143) and re-established himself as the game’s most dynamic wideout.

Running back Alvin Kamara had a slump during a major portion of the season, but turned it up during the final two weeks of the season with four rushing touchdowns and looked like he was 100 percent healthy again.

Tight end Jared Cook had a spectacular regular season with 43 catches for 705 yards and nine touchdowns, proving to be an effective weapon for head coach Sean Payton, especially in the red zone.

And of course, versatile Taysom Hill can play just about any position offensively and can add even more to the special teams by returning kicks or blocking punts.

The team made news bringing in free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown for a workout before Week 17 as its wide receiving corps is extremely thin, but the Saints passed on him, both for his antics, like bringing a camera crew to his workout, and for facing a lengthy suspension from the NFL for sexual assault allegations.

Defensively, the team lost defensive linemen Sheldon Rankins and Marcus Davenport for the season, but fellow defensive lineman Cameron Jordan and linebacker Demario Davis have emerged as two leaders on that side of the football.

Two late signings of cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety D.J. Swearinger have helped the league’s 20th ranked pass defense improve to a menacing presence.

Jenkins, who has an interception already with the Saints, can turn into a playmaker like former Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie was back int he 2000s.

Plus he and Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore combine to form one of the league’s best dynamic duos on defense.

The New Orleans Saints earned a (13-3) record and are one of the top four favorites to win Super Bowl LIV, along with the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

The Saints can return to Miami and represent the NFC in the big game with their camaraderie, ability to win on the road and motivation from their last two playoff appearances.

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