It may be hard to believe, but the New Orleans Saints are right in the mix of the race for the NFC South crown. Even after a seven-game losing streak, firing a head coach, and losing several key players to injury, the Saints could easily finish this reason as NFC South Champions, which would send the team to the playoffs.
When Dennis Allen was fired after Week 9, this didn’t seem like a possibility. However, since then, the Saints have won two straight games, including a win over the Atlanta Falcons. After losing to New Orleans, the Falcons lost a second-straight game, being embarrassed by the Denver Broncos 38-6 in Week 11.
Atlanta still sits atop the division, but at 6-5, it’s only two games ahead of the 4-7 Saints. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently second in the division at 4-6, but they lost their last four games. The Carolina Panthers have won two straight, but they still sit at the bottom with a 3-7 record, however, even they are still in the mix.
NFC South is still wide open after Week 11
For the Saints, who have put together two straight wins under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, they’re definitely thinking about what could happen if they keep stacking wins. New Orleans has a bye week in Week 12, then the team plays the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With those opponents, the Saints could definitely go on a run.
The Falcons, on the other hand, will play the Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Raiders, Giants, Commanders, and Panthers. That also isn’t a tough schedule, but there are definitely a few games Atlanta could lose, and all the Saints need is a couple of slip ups from the division’s top team.
There is a lot of football to be played, but the fact the Saints can even have this conversation after all they went through in the first half of the season is wild.