The New Orleans Saints saw their worst nightmare become reality in Week 2. Facing off in what should have been a heated rematch of the 2018 NFC Championship Game, Drew Brees left the contest early in the game with a hand injury. The Hall of Fame quarterback spent the game on the sideline but never returned to action. Teddy Bridgewater did his best coming on in relief, but it wasn’t enough to enact revenge on 2018’s season-ending loss. Nobody knows the severity of Brees’ injury, but New Orleans could be in for a long, painful ride if Brees misses extended time.
The Saints have done everything in their power to win one more Super Bowl before Drew Brees calls it a career. From backloaded contracts to aggressive draft day moves, New Orleans has effectively mortgaged the future to build an unstoppable win-now juggernaut. It’s hard to blame them for this decision, as a player as talented as Drew Brees doesn’t come around very often. The plan worked to an extent, as New Orleans had opportunities to win it all in 2017 and 2018. However, the Saints lost the 2017 NFC Divisional Round on a fluke Stefon Diggs touchdown and had a Super Bowl appearance stolen by one of the most egregious non-calls in recent memory.
2019 was supposed to be the last real chance for this group of players. Michael Thomas already got his big payday, but the core is starting to thin out. The infamous draft trade for Marcus Davenport caused New Orleans to lose quite a few valuable picks, and the roster depth isn’t what you’d like. Brees probably won’t miss the season, but this hand injury could be detrimental to New Orleans’ aspirations. The Atlanta Falcons should be good this year and could win the division if Brees is sidelined for a few weeks.
Teddy Bridgewater Doesn’t Look Like the Heir Apparent to Drew Brees
Teddy Bridgewater has a mild history of NFL success, but he didn’t look like a franchise guy in Week 2. Granted, it’s only one game, but Bridgewater struggled to consistently move the offense and couldn’t keep up with the Los Angeles Rams. The defense did their job, but Bridgewater couldn’t maintain drives.
Bridgewater hasn’t played with any regularity in quite some time, so there is some reason to believe he could improve with experience. However, this isn’t the first time he’s underwhelmed for the Big Easy. Last year, Bridgewater started the season finale against a terrible Carolina Panthers team. The Saints lost, 33-14, as Bridgewater threw for just 118 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Carolina Panthers undrafted free agent Kyle Allen looked like the better quarterback, which obviously isn’t great news for Bridgewater.
Perhaps Bridgewater just needs to knock off the rust by playing on a consistent basis. Perhaps Sean Payton can use his magic to scheme up some easy throws and play to Bridgewater’s strengths. However, based on everything we’ve seen to date, there isn’t much to like about Bridgewater’s prospects as a starter.
Why There’s Still Hope
Losing Drew Brees for any amount of time obviously isn’t ideal, but it’s not the end of the world. The Saints won’t win a Super Bowl without Drew Brees, but they can tread water until he returns. As long as this isn’t an extended absence, the Saints should be able to keep their Super Bowl dreams alive.
Winning the division is the first step in winning a title, and the NFC South is in a down year. The Falcons should remain a threat, but the other two teams shouldn’t challenge for the division crown. Cam Newton looks permanently broken and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still a dumpster fire. This is essentially a two-team race, which bodes well for New Orleans’ odds.
Additionally, this roster is still talented. While this defense isn’t the 1985 Bears, they can still win a few low-scoring games. Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara are two of the best offensive weapons in the game, and the offensive line is still elite. When combining these tools with an offensive genius in Sean Payton, Teddy Bridgewater won’t need to play like Drew Brees for this offense to be serviceable.
If they can stay afloat until Brees returns to the lineup, then the Super Bowl should still be a realistic goal. However, should they falter, this might be the end of the road for New Orleans’ title chances. Drew Brees is very much a year-to-year player right now, so it’s all-or-nothing for the 2019 New Orleans Saints. Hopefully, it’s not “nothing.”
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