Fansided

New-look Saints try to reload behind Jameis Winston

By Russell S. Baxter

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 13: Jameis Winston #2 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to taking on the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field on December 13, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 13: Jameis Winston #2 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to taking on the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field on December 13, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

One of the game’s legendary passers has retired. Now the New Orleans Saints must deal with life sans Drew Brees on a permanent basis.

Best-case scenario

Sean Payton, entering his 16th season with the franchise, relies on his running game even more than he has in recent seasons. The backfield is deep and led by Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray. The former has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons and has already amassed 6,164 total yards from scrimmage and 58 trips to the end zone.

New Orleans also features one of the best offensive lines in the league. A year ago, the club ranked sixth in the league in rushing. Look for them to move up the charts a bit this year. There are some questions about the Saints’ defense entering 2021 as Dennis Allen’s unit lost some solid performers up front.

Worst-case scenario

James Winston will be in the opening lineup in Week 1 against the visiting Green Bay Packers. He did not start a game a year ago during his first season with the saints. The last time we saw him as a full time quarterback was in 2019, when he was with the Buccaneers and leading the league in passing yards and interceptions.

That year, Tampa Bay led the NFL with 41 turnovers and 35 of those miscues were on Winston. He’s had his issues with ball security. If he reverts back to his Buccaneers’ form it could be a very long year for a team the Saints despite a lot of talent around him.

X-factor

Is former All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas an x-factor or a soon-to-be ex-factor? In 2019, he wowed the NFL with a league-record 149 receptions. And in his first four seasons with the franchise, he 470 catches for 5,512 yards and 32 scores. The former Ohio State standout missed only one game during that stretch.

A year ago, he played in only seven regular-season contests. There were 40 receptions for 438 yards and zero scores. He reached the end zone in the playoff win over the Bears but was target four times and there were no grabs a week later vs. the Bucs.

With him in the lineup, the Saints’ offense is obviously extremely dangerous. But when will he make his first appearance in 2021 (via Adam H. Beasley of Pro Football Network) after the team placed him on the PUP list?

Biggest game – Week 8 vs. Tampa Bay

A year ago, Sean Payton’s club dealt the Buccaneers a pair of losses during the regular season. The first was in Week 1 at the Superdome as the Saints came away with a 34-23 triumph. Eight weeks later on a Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium, New Orleans stifled the home team, 38-3. It’s the biggest loss (35 points) ever by an eventual Super Bowl champion.

In the first seven weeks of 2021, the Saints face one divisional opponent (at Panthers in Week 2). The home games vs. Tampa is the first of five NFC South clashes in the final 11 weeks. A year ago, Payton’s team was 6-0 in divisional games during the regular season but did lose at home to the Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

More fansided.com: Every NFL team’s most underrated player

Bold prediction

In his five seasons with the Buccaneers, quarterback Jameis Winston played in a total of 72 games – making 70 starts. There were 121 touchdown passes and 111 turnovers. Most damning is the fact that the six-year pro gave up the football at least 17 times in each of his five years in Tampa.

Under Sean Payton the past four seasons, the club has committed 18, 16, eight and 17 turnovers, respectively. Those eight miscues in 2019 are an NFL record for a season. So don’t be shocked if Winston, who served up double-digit interception total each of his five years with the Bucs, enjoys a career-year in terms of efficient ball security.