The New Orleans Saints had an impressive 2021 season. Despite missing the playoffs, New Orleans showed fight, winning nine games after losing starting quarterback Jameis Winston to a season-ending knee injury. Unfortunately, the team suffered another loss, this time occurring off the field in the offseason.
Longtime head coach Sean Payton decided to step away from coaching, paving way for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to man the franchise's steering wheel. It's undoubtedly a transition point for the franchise. However, Allen acquitted himself well in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he was thrust into the head coaching role after Payton tested positive for COVID-19. The Saints should be in good hands.
Plus, general manager Mickey Loomis went out and got a new toy for Allen to play with on defense, All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu. On the offensive side of the ball, the Saints drafted Ohio State wideout Chris Olave while bringing in veteran Jarvis Landry.
Running back Alvin Kamara could face a suspension for a nightclub beating that occurred in Las Vegas during the weekend of the Pro Bowl. The offense would take a huge hit if that occurs, though a healthy Winston figures to pick up right where he left off in 2021, making this team capable in the scoring department.
If all breaks right, Allen and the Saints could be contender for a postseason berth in the 2022 NFL season. That said, here are four way too early predictions for the Saints in 2022.
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4 Saints Way Too Early Predictions For 2022 NFL Season
4. The Saints defense remains elite, but takes a bit of a step back in 2022
The New Orleans defense has ranked top-five in points allowed per game in each of the last two seasons. Allen has pushed all the right buttons with this unit, which features Pro Bowl-level talents at each level.
Cameron Jordan is one of the best pass-rushers in the league. Demario Davis is an elite linebacker. Tyrann Mathieu and Marshon Lattimore are two of the better defensive backs in the NFL.
There are playmakers everywhere. Asking this unit to be a top-five scoring defense for the third year in a row might be too much. They'll still benefit from having Allen's voice in their ear again, this time as head coach. They should remain one of the NFL's tougher defenses to put points up on the board against.
3. Michael Thomas won't practice until training camp- then he'll return to form
Saints fans have likely been thinking here-we-go-again when it comes to Michael Thomas, who has essentially lost two years to an ankle injury.
Thomas still hasn't taken part in any of the team's offseason practices, though Allen told the media a few weeks back that he expects the star wideout to be ready for training camp.
That is exactly what will come to pass with Thomas in 2022. He won't take the field until July, then will look good in doing so.
The 2019 Offensive Player of the Year will return to the form that earned him All-Pro honors in back-to-back years in 2018 and '19. Saints fans shouldn't expect 149 receptions, which Thomas recorded when he broke the NFL's single season record, though they should expect a 1000-yard campaign out of the 29-year-old.
Thomas will get back to being Can't Guard Mike in 2022.
2. Jameis Winston will have his best season since 2019
Jameis Winston looked well on his way to a strong campaign in 2021, as he threw for 1170 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions in seven games before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.
Winston curtailed the turnovers that had long plagued him, the most promising development to come out of his first year in New Orleans. Plus, the organization bought in. They re-signed Winston to a two-year, $28 million contract in March.
While Payton is gone, Winston will benefit from still having offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael in his ear. If Michael Thomas returns to form, Winston will also have the best set of weapons, along with Landry and Olave, that he's had since the 2019 season, when he was throwing to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
He'll enjoy one of the best seasons of his career in 2022.
1. The Saints will narrowly miss out on the playoffs once again
This one will hurt to read. However, with a relatively unforgiving schedule, the Saints may find it hard to build on their nine-win campaign from last year. Non-divisional games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Las Vegas Raiders, among others, certainly won't be easy.
Make no mistake. New Orleans will be in the mix all year long. However, they will fall just shy of the postseason.
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