Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: 32-team post-preseason breakdown ahead of Week 1

By Peter Panacy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
32 of 33
Next
CARSON, CA – AUGUST 25: Drew Brees #9 of the congratulates Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints after a touchdown in the second quarter of the pre-season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on August 25, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – AUGUST 25: Drew Brees #9 of the congratulates Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints after a touchdown in the second quarter of the pre-season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on August 25, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints. 2. team. 15. . . Previous:

Well, it seems as if there’s a plan of succession in place for Saints quarterback Drew Brees now.

New Orleans found a capable backup, Teddy Bridgewater, by executing the trade with the Jets to possibly land an heir apparent to the eventual Hall of Fame 39 year old.

This is still Brees’ team, however, but the contingency plan against a possible Brees injury is an excellent thing for the Saints to have during a time when their roster is both stacked on both sides of the ball and a Super Bowl window remains open.

Bridgewater showed all the signs you’d like to see in training camp and preseason with the Jets. That’s good.

But the one thing to be excited about with New Orleans’ offense is how balanced it will be this season. Brees saw a drop in passing numbers and attempts last season, largely because of how effective the Saints’ running game was with Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. Ingram will start off the year suspended, but the true focal point will be on Kamara. Nothing wrong there.

And on defense? Well, this group is young and boasting plenty of talent, including second-year cornerback Marshon Lattimore — only the 2017 defensive rookie of the year.

Granted, New Orleans plays in a meat grinder of a division, the NFC South, which could boast three playoff teams again this season.

But if iron sharpens iron, and many of those promising 2017 rookies take the next leap in their respective developments, we should see another deep push from the Saints into the playoffs again in 2018.