The New Orleans Saints were not supposed to be here. Following a 1-1 start to the season, they were facing a serious uphill battle. Legendary quarterback Drew Brees went down with an injury and would miss significant time. However, backup Teddy Bridgewater not only kept them afloat, but he also helped them prosper.
That put New Orleans in a great position when Brees returned.
They have capitalized on that moment, becoming one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL.
At 10-2, the Saints have already clinched the NFC South. However, they still need to secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage. A lot of that could be determined in Week 14 when they face off with the 10-2 San Francisco 49ers.
How do they pull out a victory, though? Here are four reasons why the Saints could beat the 49ers in Week 14.
Rushing Defense
The 49ers have one of the better running attacks in all of football. That's because they have three running backs that have been exceptional this year.
Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert have been phenomenal all year long. However, you know what else has been fantastic? The New Orleans defense against the run.
The Saints are allowing just 88.6 rushing yards per game. That's the third-fewest in the NFL. They have been able to stifle some truly fantastic rushing attacks.
If they can do that against the 49ers, they are taking away the biggest part of their offense. Asking San Francisco to try and keep the offense moving without the running game could force them to fall apart.
If the 49ers fall apart, the Saints will pounce. They won't fumble the opportunity to jump on a good team like this.
Once the Saints get a lead, it's hard to imagine them giving it up to anyone. So that could quickly lead to a victory for New Orleans
Jimmy Garoppolo
The reason I feel the 49ers would fall apart with their running game is quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. I don't want to be that guy, mainly because I feel like I've already made this argument, and I don't want to make it seem like I'm piling on.
Garoppolo is by no means a lousy quarterback. Overall, he's having a pretty solid season. And he's helped lead his team to a 10-2 record.
However, Garoppolo has had as many games with under 200 passing yards (5) as he has over 250 passing yards (also 5). That's not exactly encouraging.
It shows that Garoppolo sometimes can't get things going for the offense.
With the Saints' tough defense — especially against the run — Garoppolo is not going to get much help. So he will more-than-likely be asked to make some big plays. Can he do it?
Maybe he can. But for now, the quarterback has not proven that he can be that guy. So for the moment, it's an advantage for the Saints.
Weapons
New Orleans has an abundance of weapons for Brees. Michael Thomas is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, tallying 110 receptions for 1,290 yards and six touchdowns in 2019 with four games left in the season.
Jared Cook is a great playmaker at tight end too. He does not need a lot of receptions to make some noise, and that's perfect for this offense.
Alvin Kamara is a star at running back who can change a game at any moment. Meanwhile, Latavius Murray would be a starter on most teams. He's the backup for Kamara and could rush for 100 yards quite often if he got his number called enough.
Then there is Ted Ginn and Tre'Quan Smith. Both speed merchants, they can provide big plays when needed.
Oh, and Taysom Hill does everything. He's the Swiss Army Knife of the offense, recording a rushing and receiving touchdown on the year, although he's technically a quarterback.
Brees and the Saints are never low on weapons. That's dangerous, considering that the future Hall of Fame quarterback doesn't need much help to begin with. The offense can lead New Orleans to a victory any week.
Pass Rush
The Saints' defense as a whole is excellent. Yes, I've already talked about their rushing defense, but that's not all they can do.
New Orleans also boasts a strong pass-rush, one that has recorded 40 sacks on the year. That defense is led by veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan, who already has 13.5 sacks.
The pass rush could be crucial in this game. As mentioned, the defense should be able to contain San Francisco's running attack, at least. That leaves Garoppolo and the passing offense.
Truthfully, Garoppolo's weapons are not all that special. George Kittle is one of the best tight ends in football, but they don't have any receivers that should make you fearful, if, of course, Emmanuel Sanders doesn't float your boat.
So what you have to do is get to the quarterback. Don't give him time in the pocket. That will make it even less likely that his targets will get open. Suddenly, the 49ers could find themselves in a spot where they can get absolutely nothing going offensively.
It's hard to imagine the Saints losing if that happens.
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