Niner Noise
FanSided

Why the Saints are a dark-horse candidate to make Super Bowl LII

By Chris Wilson

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws to an open receiver during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 31, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws to an open receiver during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 31, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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Saints Super Bowl
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 24: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints in action against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Drew Brees

The New Orleans Saints have 11-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees. The 38-year-old Brees broke the single-season completion percentage record again in 2017, and ranked fourth among quarterbacks with an 87.8 grade from PFF.

Brees is a leader, and leadership matters in the playoffs. Brees is also the only NFC signal-caller with a Super Bowl ring, and definitely compares favorably against his fellow playoff quarterbacks.

The Eagles’ Nick Foles has a quarterback rating under 80 and just 5.3 yards per attempt in relief of Wentz this season. The Vikings’ Case Keenum is having the best season of his career, but is an NFL journeyman who has never played in a playoff game. The NFL Playoffs will also be new for the Rams’ Jared Goff, who is 23 years old, and has just 22 regular season games under his belt.

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The two Wild Card teams have more established quarterbacks, but both QBs have experienced both early troubles and recent setbacks in the playoffs.

The Panthers’ Cam Newton was 1-2 in playoff games before leading his team to the Super Bowl at the end of the 2014 season. Unfortunately, his poor performance and subsequent meltdown at the end of the game and during the post-game press conference led many to question whether Newton was indeed a franchise quarterback.

The Falcons’ Matt Ryan lost four of his first five playoff games before his 2015 Super Bowl season. What looked like a fairytale ending for Ryan ended as a horror story, as Ryan’s Falcons’ fell victim to the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Next: 49ers TE George Kittle's rookie season was historic

The New Orleans Saints surely have the talent to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LII, but every Super Bowl champion knows it takes a lot of talent, great execution and a little luck in order to end the season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.