The Saints will resume practice this week in the hopes that the “mini-bye” will help them clear their heads and focus on making the necessary corrections before they play the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday. Although New Orleans appears to have many offensive problems, they are also aware that, with the perfect New Orleans they might be either 5-2 or 6-1 at this point. They are, however, what their 3–4 record indicates.
The most important question is: will their strategy ultimately work, or will it come back to haunt them? There are ten games remaining in the season for the “keep doing what you’re doing and hoping it comes together” strategy. But hope isn’t actually a good business approach. Essentially, New Orleans needs to win at least six of the remaining ten games on their schedule. In all likelihood, they must hit seven.
There is a lot of football left, according to math, but that was also the thinking going into the previous season.
The Saints may not benefit by going 9-8 in a pretty competitive division where the Falcons are the dominant team, but if they can build on their 1-1 record in the division and accumulate wins that matter in the NFC South, then it might work out. Going 10-7 at this time is your safest bet. According to the NFC standings, Detroit is vying for control of the NFC North, while Philadelphia and San Francisco are at the top. The Cowboys and Seahawks are the current favorites for the wild card, and the Bucs would be in if the playoffs began today.
