Defense has Saints on Rise - An Article by Jim Gazzolo

It has been 10 years since the Saints found themselves in this position.

After two games of the new season, they have yet to suffer defeat. Small sample size yes, but it still works.

With all their success in the past, it seems hard to believe the 2-0 start is their first for the franchise since 2013.

Yet it is just that.

The Saints find themselves with a lot of unexpected company in the spot as well. Both Atlanta and Tampa Bay are also undefeated in this early stage. A division nobody thought would be tough has suddenly gotten crowded at the top.

So nothing is as it was expected to be, which seems to be just fine for these Saints. They do not look anything like what was expected either.

Expected to be more of an offensive team, the Saints have found their way through a defense that has allowed just one touchdown over eight quarters of play.

Granted, the Saints haven’t played the best of offenses the National Football League has to offer, but they haven’t lost either. 

Derek Carr, the new QB brought in to bring back the high-powered offense to the Dome, has been solid enough to win games. He hasn’t made big mistakes like back in his days as a Raider, which is maybe all this team needs right now.

There will be a time when Carr will have to make plays to win games, but that is not likely how this team gets to the playoffs. According to Carr, it was the Saints' defense that led him to sign with New Orleans in the offseason.

"That is a very big part of the reason why I came here," Carr said.

A good defense can take a team a long way. It also is giving Carr time to build his game around his new teammates.

The Saints have allowed just 32 points in the first two games and head coach Dennis Allen believes his defense can keep that going.

“It is not surprising to me,” said Allen.”It is hard, it’s tough but when you have really good players who are accountable to each other then you are able to perform. We have players who are really good here.’

People often forget these are not the Saints of Drew Brees and Sean Payton. Brees was an electrifying quarterback and Payton is an offensive-minded coach.

Allen is not. He is more of a conservative, defense-first guy who would be happy to win a game 3-2 if he could. 

It is hard to believe in this NFL, with the rules all in favor of passing and offense, that a defense can win a title alone. So the Saints will need Carr and crew to make plays against the better teams. They know this as well. 

Both Carr and Allen said as much this week.

Still, it’s two early wins while the offense tries to find itself, and the Saints aren’t about to give them back. 

Not after waiting a decade to get here.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese State and is the host of Poke Nation on CBS-Lake Charles