Are the Saints contenders or pretenders after two blowouts?

After a resounding win over the Green Bay Packers, the New Orleans Saints are on the other end of a blowout in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. 

According to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, football season starts after Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t stop the NFL world from speculating playoff contenders as early as Week 2.

And no team is more difficult to read at the moment than the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints stunned the world in Week 1 when they defeated the Green Bay Packers 38-3, delivering five touchdowns and holding Aaron Rodgers to a single field goal.

In Week 2, the team is hardly recognizable in a shutout loss versus the Carolina Panthers.

NFL analyst Trey Wingo captured the surprising Saints downfall in a series of tweets:

Saints as playoff contender or pretender depends on quarterback Jameis Winston

The biggest unknown in 2021 is how Saints quarterback Jameis Winston will perform, a question that seemed to be all but resolved when he battled the Packers last week. Winston completed 14 out of 20 passes for 148 yards and five touchdowns, giving him a QBR of 91.8.

Winston’s play was so impressive that he emerged the second-highest ranked quarterback in Week 1 only behind Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

After a year spent developing behind Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, Winston seemed to have learned from his early-career mistakes. Under Bruce Arians’ “No Risk It, No Biscuit” philosophy, Winston became the first NFL quarterback to throw for at least 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 2019.

Winston threw for an astounding 5,109 yards that year, but the accomplishment was lost amongst the turnovers and the 7-9 record. Against Green Bay, Winston seemed to harness all he was capable of without the costly mistakes.

Following a heroic showing against one of the NFC’s top teams, Winston entered Week 2 buoyed on the praise of analysts and teammates alike. According to The New York Post’s Steve Serby, “no one around the Saints believes he will be a one-hit wonder.”

While Winston’s foundation is much better in New Orleans, the ghosts from his interception-riddled past came to haunt him in Week 2. Winston had a paltry follow-up performance, completing 11-of-22 passes for 111 yards and two interceptions. Winton also suffered four sacks for 31 yards.

Due to the the blowout, the Saints hardly gave running back Alvin Kamara the rock — he finished with five rushing yards — Winston led in rushing yards with 20 yards on two attempts and a touchdown.

https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1439671545501306889?s=20

Still, Winston’s feet is more his downfall than a saving grace, with his disorienting scramble causing a classic Winston fadeaway interception.

The resurgence of the Winston interception raises the question: are the Saints legitimate playoff contenders headed by Winston, or are they early pretenders that will peter out before playoffs?

With what the Saints demonstrated in Week 1, they are every bit a Sean Peyton-led team primed for a playoff berth. But with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a strong NFC contender, the Saints will likely fight for a Wild Card slot — a shot they could win if they correct their woeful Week 2 ways and stay afloat despite Michael Thomas’ absence.