Are The Saints The Best Team In The NFL?

The Saints have always had an amazing offense (more specifically an amazing passing offense) since Drew Brees joined the team. They're rushing offense has always been shaky because Reggie Bush sucks, but their biggest problem was always there defense. However, this year, both the running game and the defense have improved. Although I'm writing this post while the Saints still have 3 minutes left to play, I think it's safe to say that the Saints and the Colts are the two best teams in the NFL. But can we say the Saints are #1?

QB: Peyton Manning this year will probably be the MVP so I think it's safe to say he's better than Brees, but Brees is still top 3 in this league.

RB: This year, the Saints have a darn good rushing offense led by Pierre Thomas (and Mike Bell when Thomas is injured). The Saints rank 10th in the NFL in rushing yards, 8th in YPA, 3rd in YPG, and t-1st in rushing TDs (and I'm confident they will have the lead after this game ends. The Saints are very good at running the ball and pretty darn efficient. Bell and Thomas are both in the top 14 RBs according to footballoutsiders.com. Take this versus the Colts. They rank 30th in rushing YPG and 7th in rushing TDs.

Takeaways: The single most important causal factor into which football teams wins is turnovers. Both the Colts and Saints have obviously are very good. Both are pretty much even but Saints (+8) hold the slight edge over the Colts (+6)

Defense Lines: Neither team is all that great at defending against the run on the line, but NO (23rd) still holds the slight edge over Indy (26th). Indy however holds the advantage in the passing game. Indy ranks 11th to NO's 20th. Indy also holds the advantage in the sacks department- probably the second biggest factor into winning games. Indy has 20 compared to NO's 14.

Rushing D: NO ranks 2nd in the amount of rushing yards they gave to opponents, 6th in YPG, but have given up 8 rushing TDs versus Indy who ranks 17th in rushing yards given up and rushing YPG, but have given up three less rushing TDs. Granted I think the Colts will be much better against the run once Bob Sanders stays healthy, but they are not that good right now.

Secondary: Darren Sharper is one of the best corner in the game leading the league in INTs. In fact, NO is 3rd in the league for interceptions with 13 compared to Indy's 7. New Orleans ranks 2nd in the NFL defending an opponent's #1 wide out compared to Indy ranking 16. The Saints rank 3rd in the NFL defending a team's #2 receiver vs Indy ranking 21st. No also holds the TE advantage ranking 3rd to Indy's 9th place.

Overall defense: Footballoutsiders.com ranks NO as the 7th best defense compared to Indy ranking 10th. These defenses are pretty close but NO holds the advantage in passing D, rushing D, defensive efficiency and takeaways.

The New Orleans Saints hold the advantage in running the ball, defending the run, and defending the pass. And boy howdy can they they throw the ball. if the Saints lose to the Pats I'll be skeptical about ranking them ahead of Indy just because Indy has the AFC advnatage and thus a harder schedule, but damn the Saints are good this year

You Make Plays When You Need It Most

One of my newest favorite ESPN football analysts, Trent Dilfer, is apparently being pressured to sound more like ESPN's baseball analysts. When talking about the Indianapolis/ Cleveland game a few weeks ago, Dilfer pointed out just how good Indy's D was. The final score was 10-6 so both teams put up a damn good defensive fronts but late in the game when the Browns were looking to score Indy stopped their drive and won the game. As Dilfer said so astutely about the Colts' D, "They make plays when they need to the most"

You're right Trent. Indy does not make plays when they don't need to. When it's 1st and ten and the Browns have 90 yards to go for a TD, their defense just doesn't try. Why should they they? They don't ever make plays. They only make effective plays when the Browns get in field goal range. Why try to get an interception or force a fumble when they game doesn't matter? For three plus quarters, the Indy D doesn't give a shit. In fact, we shouldn't count any defensive stats Indy players make unless it's the opposing teams last drive.

Trent. Come on. Don't stoop down to John Kruk analysis here. How about just say something like, the Colts just have a good defense? How something that their defensive ends are pro bowl caliber guys able to stop a QB on any drive and thus able to stop a QB on the last drive? Teams try to AND succeed at making plays no matter the game situation is. Not just when "they need to the most"