NFL Playoffs: 5 reasons the New Orleans Saints will make the playoffs

Nov 13, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) talks to wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) after his fourth quarter touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Broncos won, 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) scores a touchdown past Atlanta Falcons linebacker LaRoy Reynolds (53) during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Falcons defeated the Saints 45-32. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Run Game

Through six weeks, the Saints running game was not effective. Mark Ingram was averaging 3.8 yards per carry and had just 334 yards in his first six games. Tim Hightower had just 14 carries to compile just 48 yards. Then, Mark Ingram fumbled twice, got benched and somehow everything got fixed.

Ingram was benched after just three carries against the Seahawks, and against one of the best run defenses in the NFL, Tim Hightower ran for 102 yards in relief to help give the Saints a win. From the time Ingram was benched through Week 12, Hightower has had 84 attempts and ran for 330 yards. However, what is really worth noting is that Ingram has run for 382 yards in the past four games on just 47 carries.

Through the first six games, the Saints ran for 494 yards. In the last five, they ran for 767. They had three 100-yard rushers in the past five weeks. That would be three more than the past six weeks. They also have had two, 200-yard rushing games as a team during this rushing rampage.

Whatever it is that ignited this running game, it is working. As the games become more important and we creep into December, it becomes imperative to run the ball. To have a productive ground game on top of Drew Brees gives this team plenty of hope.

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