ESPN’s FPI rankings have Saints as 4th best team in the NFL

Another year, another high ranking for the New Orleans Saints heading into the season. The folks at ESPN predict how teams will do during the 2020 season.

Power rankings and predictions rule the day this time of year as the NFL season approaches. ESPN’s highly anticipated FPI rankings recently were revealed, and they are predicting the New Orleans Saints to finish with over 10 wins, pegging them a solid fourth in the rankings.

However, the Saints have the 3rd-highest chance to win Super Bowl LV at 13%. The Kansas City Chiefs are first with a 21% chance to repeat as champs.

ESPN’s FPI or Football Power Index is their prediction model for the NFL season.

They factor in a myriad of different factors to reach the final conclusion such as projected win total from Vegas, number of returning starters, offensive, defensive, and special teams ratings from last season, and strength of schedule just to name a few.

They run this information over 20,000 simulations to get the final rankings.

Looking around the NFC South, the FPI predicts a number 8 ranking in the NFL for the new-look Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They are followed by the Atlanta Falcons at 18 and the Carolina Panthers at 29.

In the same rankings published last season, the Saints were ranked 2nd heading into the 2019 season.

While there has been a major shakeup in the NFL (and especially within the division) major national prognosticators still see the New Orleans Saints as favorites not only to capture a 4th straight NFC South crown but to be the NFC representatives in this year’s Super Bowl.

No doubt this narrative is anchored by the team’s 13-3 record again last season, the return of Drew Brees, key free agent signings in Malcolm Jenkins and Emmanuel Sanders, and a solid draft class that addressed key issues.

While it’s nice to be recognized as one of the best, the Saints must do their part on the field to show why they are so highly thought of as one of the league’s best.

Let’s hope those experts are wrong and that the Saints are the last team standing in the end.