Despite their 4-7 record, the New Orleans Saints still have a shot of making the playoffs. Following a 2-0 start where they dominated opponents, the team went on an injury-riddled seven-game losing streak that resulted in the firing of former head coach Dennis Allen. However, the team bounced back under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, winning two straight games with a now-healthy Derek Carr and giving New Orleans some hope at the postseason.
According to NFL.com, the Saints currently have a 4% chance of making the playoffs. While this certainly isn’t great, it’s enough for New Orleans to start looking ahead at the schedule and think about what must happen for them to make it to the postseason for the first time since Drew Brees was under center.
New Orleans Saints Path to the Playoffs
Step 1: Win Out
Heading into Week 12, the Saints are two games behind the Atlanta Falcons and tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4-7. Given the low playoff odds, New Orleans must win each of their next six games if they want to play meaningful football in January. The biggest game on the schedule is Week 18’s regular season finale against Tampa Bay. While Baker Mayfield is in the midst of his best season, the rest of the team is not holding up their end of the bargain. If the Saints win out, they won’t need to worry about Tampa Bay in the standings, but that’s easier said than done.
There is no such thing as an ‘easy’ win in the NFL, especially for a middle-of-the-pack team like New Orleans. They can’t afford to overlook anyone, but the toughest games left on the schedule are Week 13’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams and Week 15’s showdown with the Washington Commanders. Los Angeles had a slow start to the season but the offense is firing on all cylinders now that star receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are both on the field. The Commanders, meanwhile, are cooling off after Jayden Daniels’ hot start to the season. Still, the Saints can’t afford to overlook the promising rookie.
Step 2: Get Some Help
Winning out will eliminate the Buccaneers from the playoff picture, but it won’t be enough to take down the Atlanta Falcons. At 6-5, Kirk Cousins and company control their destiny and must lose at least two games for the Saints to have a shot at the playoffs. Fortunately for New Orleans, their most hated division rivals have a difficult finishing schedule.
The Falcons close out their season with games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Carolina Panthers. While the team shouldn’t have too much trouble against the Raiders, Giants, and Panthers, the other three games could give them trouble. The Chargers and Vikings are objectively better than Atlanta, while Washington is a wild card. If the Saints win out and the Falcons lose two of their next six, then tiebreakers will decide who makes the playoffs. If the Falcons lose three games, then the Saints will make the playoffs.
Far and away the most difficult part of this stretch is asking New Orleans to win six straight games. It isn’t particularly likely, but stranger things have happened.
Main Photo: Matthew Hinton – USA Today Sports
