Saints are the only NFC South team that has to face Deshaun Watson

The NFL has added five games to Deshaun Watson’s suspension, giving him 11 total games as punishment. This means the New Orleans Saints will have to face him in 2022. 

It wasn’t long ago when the New Orleans Saints were trying to add Deshaun Watson to their roster. They ended up “missing out” on him when the Cleveland Browns jumped in and gave him a boatload of cash and also parted with three first-round picks. It was a steep price to pay and that was before we knew of the suspension time Watson would be serving.

Originally, Watson was set to only miss six games. The NFL stepped in shortly after and it felt as though they were going to lay down the hammer on him. Unfortunately, they too, let us down, only adding five games to the suspension time. Watson is now suspended for 11 games, which means that he’ll face the Saints in Week 16.

Saints have to face Deshaun Watson in 2022

Truthfully, I’m not worried about Watson’s impact with the Browns at that point in the season. Not having their starting quarterback for 11 games is likely going to sink Cleveland’s entire season and they’ll be well out of the playoff race by that point in time.

Watson also hasn’t taken a snap since the end of the 2020 season. He led the league in passing yards that year but stepping back under center after not playing real football for nearly two years is going to be hard and don’t think that defenses won’t be coming after Watson and making his life a living hell.

The Saints’ defense is poised to be one of the best this year and they shouldn’t have a problem with Watson. Still, it’s frustrating that New Orleans is the only NFC South squad that has to face Watson. The other three dodged having to face him and it’s just more evidence that the NFL hates the Saints.

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