NFL Power Rankings: 18-16
It’s been a tumultuous month or so for a team that is that opened 1-7, finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs. Brian Flores was fired after three seasons with the club, quite the surprise considering the club is coming off back-to-back winning campaigns.
Meanwhile, the new head coach for a franchise that hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2016 is former 49ers’ defensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. What does the future hold for Tua Tagovailoa?
The Saints got off to a solid story is solid start with the rout of the Packers in Week 1. And after seven games, Sean Payton’s team owned a 5-2 record. After a respectable start, strong-armed Jameis Winston would miss the majority of the season and the team would start four different quarterbacks.
The team just missed out on the playoffs. Payton opted for retirement and the club promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to take over.
Frank Reich’s team lost their first three games. But the Colts eventually settled down and owned a 9-6 record with two weeks to play. Quarterback Carson Wentz (whose future with the team could be in doubt, via ESPN’s Chris Mortensen) did cut back on the mistakes but was far from perfect.
Jonathan Taylor led the NFL in rushing and linebacker Darius Leonard had another huge year. But the inconsistency wound up costing them by season’s end.