2021 NFL Power Rankings: New Orleans Saints
Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.
Here is where the New Orleans Saints rank in terms of average, best and worst:
- Average ranking: 16.6 (17th)
- Best ranking: 13th (USA Today)
- Worst ranking: 19th (NFL.com)
Below you will find a Week 5 roundup for the Saints in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
ESPN -- Rank: 17
Biggest surprise: The 31st-ranked passing offense
Why it's a surprise: The Saints are averaging just 144 passing yards per game, while Alvin Kamara has set career highs with 24 and 26 carries, respectively, over the past two weeks. That kind of run-pass disparity worked when the Saints were running out the clock in big wins over Green Bay and New England but has been called into question now after they allowed the Giants to rally for a stunning comeback win Sunday. At some point, Sean Payton may need to rely more heavily on Jameis Winston and the passing offense. It will certainly help if WR Michael Thomas returns from his ankle injury when eligible after the Week 6 bye. -- Mike Triplett
Why it's a surprise: The Saints are averaging just 144 passing yards per game, while Alvin Kamara has set career highs with 24 and 26 carries, respectively, over the past two weeks. That kind of run-pass disparity worked when the Saints were running out the clock in big wins over Green Bay and New England but has been called into question now after they allowed the Giants to rally for a stunning comeback win Sunday. At some point, Sean Payton may need to rely more heavily on Jameis Winston and the passing offense. It will certainly help if WR Michael Thomas returns from his ankle injury when eligible after the Week 6 bye. -- Mike Triplett
NFL.com -- Rank: 19
Who are the Saints? That's a fair question to ask after a 2-2 start in which New Orleans has alternated looking like a legit contender and a conference also-ran. We got a little bit of both on Sunday against the Giants: The Saints jumped out to a 21-10 lead behind a pair of Taysom Hill touchdown runs, but the offense went cold as the defense faltered in crunch time. New Orleans surrendered 11 unanswered points to close the fourth quarter, then allowed the Giants to march down the field for the winning touchdown on the first drive of overtime. Playing in front of a sold-out home crowd at the Superdome for the first time in 637 days, the final result couldn't be considered anything less than an epic letdown.
CBS Sports -- Rank: 17
This team is hard to figure out. They look great one week and awful the next. They have to get more from their passing game in terms of chunk plays.
USA Today -- Rank: 13
How do you explain RB Alvin Kamara not getting targeted once as a receiver ... or handing it off to him 26 times? Baffling.
The Athletic -- Rank: 17
What a roller coaster of a season for the Saints. They finally returned home after more than a month away because of Hurricane Ida, only to lose in overtime to the Giants after a series of defensive breakdowns and an offense that couldn't come up with the big play when necessary. After four weeks, it's not entirely clear what the Saints' offensive identity is, beyond Sean Payton trying to rein in quarterback Jameis Winston (who hasn't attempted more than 23 passes in a game this season).
Previous updates:
- New Orleans Saints 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 4
- New Orleans Saints 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 3
- New Orleans Saints 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 2
- New Orleans Saints 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 1
- New Orleans Saints 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Post-Draft
More New Orleans Saints pages:
- New Orleans Saints Mock Draft Roundup
- New Orleans Saints Snap Counts
- New Orleans Saints Franchise Leaders
- New Orleans Saints Draft History
- New Orleans Saints Schedule
- New Orleans Saints Tickets
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