NFL: 5 Teams Dangerously Close to the Panic Button

5. New Orleans Saints (2-4)

Although the Saints have the worst record of any of these five teams, they still have the best shot of making the playoffs. The NFC South is the worst division in football by far, like LA-to-New-York far. The Carolina Panthers are winning the division, and they’re only 3-3 on the season. For how bad New Orleans has looked, it’s remarkable they are anywhere near the top of a division. They’ve looked like one of the bottom five teams in the league, and they are in the thick of the playoff race heading into the midseason.

Still, New Orleans has to think about pressing the big, red panic button right now. Their offense is not what it used to be. Honestly, I can’t believe they miss Darren Sproles this much. Drew Brees is so limited in choosing where to throw the ball, and the Saints don’t have that top five receiver all the other top quarterbacks have. Marques Colston is a good receiver, but he’s not a top wideout in the league. Brandin Cooks has looked like a rookie and has failed to breakout like expected. Jimmy Graham doesn’t look like himself this season, and he was held without a catch against Detroit. There’s just not a lot to like about New Orleans right now.

Through six games, New Orleans has the tenth-best scoring offense in the league at 25.8 points per game, but the defense is automatically ruining any progress the offense makes. Currently, the defense is allowing 27.5 PPG, the fifth-worst in the league.

I’m no good at math, but when you give up more points than you score, you’re probably going to lose the game.

The Saints don’t need to push the panic button just yet, but if they another loss before two or three wins, the Saints will be in full panic mode. With Green Bay coming to town this week, it might happen sooner rather than later.