Kellen Moore might've known what he was doing bringing in Brandon Staley, because the New Orleans Saints defense hasn't been this good in a while. Limiting their last opponent to just six points, the defense has been miles better compared to last year.
The Saints defense was ranked 30th in total defense in 2024, allowing 379.9 yards a game a year ago. They now sit just inside the top ten in the league, ranking ninth in the same category with 303.5 yards allowed per game. Furthermore, they're also in the top half of the league in terms of points allowed per game with 22.5.
This comes as the team's defense is changing hands, with Moore appointing former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as the guy to be his defensive coordinator in the Crescent City. Running a 3-4 defense, Staley has also significantly improved the Saints' pass defense, which is currently the fifth-best in the NFL.
Saints fans won't need to look far for their team's most recent defensive showcase
If you want some game stats as proof, just look at how they handled their last opponent, the New York Jets. Even ignoring the fact that the Jets are likely to end up with a top-five pick again, it's impressive nonetheless that the Saints were able to limit New York's third-down conversion rate to just 13%. The New Orleans defense also held the Jets offense scoreless on its final eight possessions.
During their visit to the Superdome, the Jets weren't able to come away with any touchdowns, managing to only put two field goals on the scoreboard. They were also unable to finish the game without committing a turnover, with Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepard forcing the ball out of Jets quarterback Brady Cook's hands as he took him to the ground and Saints safety Jonas Sanker intercepting Cook.