Saints Playoff Picture: NOLA bumped down after three-game slump
By Kristen Wong
The New Orleans Saints lost ground in the playoff race after their Week 11 loss to the Eagles. Their future suddenly isn’t looking so bright.
Did the Saints throw everything they had at the Bucs, and now, three weeks later, they’ve got nothing left?
It certainly seems like it.
Week 11 marked their third consecutive defeat, and though their recent losses were fairly close in scoring, the Saints’ game performances leave much to be desired.
Siemian looked his worst against the Eagles, throwing two picks and making many questionable decisions. The once-elite Saints’ defense now looks unsure of itself and is without an identity. Callaway, Harris, Smith, and other wideouts float like ghosts on the sideline, unseen and unheard.
Just how far has this mid-tier team fallen?
Here’s what the current NFC playoff picture looks like after Week 11:
- Arizona Cardinals (9-2)
- Green Bay Packers (8-3)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (7-3)
- Minnesota Vikings (5-5)
- New Orleans Saints (5-5)
IN THE HUNT: San Francisco 49ers (5-5), Philadelphia Eagles (5-6), Carolina Panthers (5-6)
New Orleans Saints could quickly find themselves on the outside looking in
If the season ended today, the Saints would face the Packers at Lambeau Field in the Wild Card round. NOLA might have handled the Pack in Week 1, but a lot has changed since then. This would be a rough game for them. The Bucs would host the Vikings and the Cowboys would welcome in the Rams in the other Wild Card games.
In other Week 11 news: the Vikings beat the Packers and jump into the 6th seed. The top four seeds haven’t changed much with the Cardinals and Packers wrangling for that No. 1 spot.
An expected Bucs win over the Giants means they remain top of the NFC South. Brady got his favorite weapon, Gronkowski, back on Sunday, so Tampa Bay could get some momentum going in this final stretch of the season.
In the hunt, the 49ers, Eagles, and Panthers all closely trail the Saints. Given NOLA’s upcoming schedule, don’t count on the Saints staying in the playoff picture.
New Orleans will face the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving followed by the Dallas Cowboys. Those QB-WR combinations of Allen-Diggs and Prescott-Lamb could strip the Saints’ D of whatever shred of dignity it has left.
Next. 5 positions the Saints desperately need to address this offseason. dark
Could NOLA’s season get any worse? If you’re asking that question, yes, it very much could.