1. Drew Brees sets the tone » New Orleans is fun to watch because they operate at a high level and a fast pace. It starts with the quarterback. Brees sets fast and is decisive. He’s also as accurate as any quarterback in the game. It’s clear how much he trusts his receivers, too, not to mention his offensive line. In fact, he’s only been sacked 14 times this season; they’ll use max protection vs. the blitz. That’s why Brees can do things like fake a throw to one side, fake to the other and then go back over the middle. It’s no wonder that his top three receivers all average at least 16.8 yards per catch.
2. Their defense makes plays » Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams can be even more aggressive than ever because he has an offense that can erase any deficit. So Williams’ defense takes more chances than most. They blitz more than half the time in passing situations, but they don’t always have to, thanks to a front four that can generate pressure. Also, 11 different players have recorded sacks. And they’ve scored seven touchdowns (three from safety Darren Sharper). Think about this: they held New England to 17 points despite starting two corners, Chris McAlister and Mike McKenzie, who were signed after Nov. 17.
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3. They struggle vs. the run » New Orleans ranks 25th in yards per carry allowed and 20th overall. The return of defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis will help. In one three-game stretch this season, Atlanta’s Michael Turner (151 yards), Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams (149 yards) and St. Louis’ Steven Jackson (131 yards) all had big games vs. the Saints. Other teams had success early, but were forced to abandon the run because of the score.
4. They can run the ball » It helps that they spread the field and force teams to keep two safeties deep. Who couldn’t run the ball in this situation? But New Orleans has two backs in Mike Bell (564 yards) and Pierre Thomas (648 yards) who can hurt teams inside. Reggie Bush (277 yards) handles the outside. They’ve combined for 14 touchdowns.
