Saints: 4 things that must happen in order to win the NFC South in 2021

In order for the Saints to win the NFC South, Michael Thomas has to have a bounce-back season.

We were all disappointed with the lack of Michael Thomas in the offense last season but injuries prevented him from appearing in more than seven games a season ago. Thomas had the worst season of his career, catching just 40 passes for 438 yards and not finding the end zone once.

With no true No. 2 wide receiver on the roster, it’s crucial that Thomas bounces back to the 2019 version of himself. That season saw the former Ohio State Buckeye haul in 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns. If the MVP award wasn’t reserved for quarterbacks, Thomas would have been an easy choice to win the prestigious award due to his efforts. Hey, at least he won Offensive Player of the Year, right?

Anyway, the Saints need their playmakers to step up in a big way this year and with Thomas on the shelf for most of last season, a bounce-back year from him is highly important. Whoever starts at quarterback is going to need the 2019 version of Thomas on the field because when that Thomas shows up, the Saints can strike from anywhere.