Here’s the one reason why Sean Payton deserves to win Coach of the Year
Sean Payton stuck to his gut and it has paid off in a big way for the Saints in 2020.
The New Orleans Saints enter the weekend at 10-2 and atop the NFC standings. The team has not lost since September 27 and the past three victories have all come with Taysom Hill at quarterback.
Drew Brees went down in a Week 10 win over the San Francisco 49ers and Jameis Winston split time with Hill. Sean Payton opted to go with the versatile Hill, who was given a vote of confidence with a contract extension this past offseason, and that decision is a clear reason why he should be a favorite for Coach of the Year.
Payton made the right move
Having the Saints atop the standings already puts Payton in the award conversation. But losing Brees and not skipping a beat shows Payton knew Hill was the top option. He didn’t panic and play Winston just so the team could run its normal offense. The offense adapted around Hill’s skillset and the result has been three straight wins.
Those wins have the Saints one game up on the Green Bay Packers in the hunt for the only available bye in the NFC playoffs.
Payton has not won Coach of the Year honors since his first season back in 2006. Since then he and Brees have won a Super Bowl and he is now set to win his fourth straight NFC South crown. Winning it in 2020 without Brees on the field the entire season is a testament to the system Payton has in place down in New Orleans.
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A Coach of the Year should do a lot of winning and overcome some adversity in the process. Finishing as one of the top teams in the NFC and making Hill look like a legitimate starting quarterback fits those quotas. Now Payton just needs to keep the current pace going over the final four games of the season to lock up the award.