New Orleans Saints: Revisiting 2017 preseason predictions

Before the 2017 season, predictions about the New Orleans Saints were made and it’s time to look back and see if they actually came true.

Before the 2017 season began, it was unclear how the New Orleans Saints would fare. The team has been plagued with 7-9 seasons but made some stellar moves in free agency and in the draft.

Once the season finally arrived, the Saints exceeded any and all expectations. They were one of the most improved teams in the NFC. Eventually, the team became a contender and went to the playoffs.

Before we talk more about the regular season, it’s time to look at three bold predictions I made for the Saints. These predictions were made last July before we truly knew anything or could hope to. For each prediction, I’ll talk about if it came true and, if it didn’t, what did happen.

Prediction 1: Adrian Peterson rushes for over 1,000 yards

Talk about starting off bold! Last season, I predicted Adrian Peterson would rush for over 1,000 yards as a member of the Saints. Ultimately, this prediction ended up being false while my embarrassment is 100 percent real and true.

Disregarding that, the Saints did find their answer at running back. The team eventually traded away Peterson to the Arizona Cardinals. Peterson didn’t even finish the season with 1,000 yards overall.

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Veteran running back Mark Ingram rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. Surprisingly, rookie Alvin Kamara became a perfect companion to Ingram and surpassed Peterson on the depth chart quickly. Kamara finished the season with 728 yards and eight touchdowns.

Even though this prediction didn’t come true, something good came out of it. The Saints knew what they didn’t want and got a Rookie of the Year. It was a win-win for the Saints and Peterson is still a free agent.

Prediction 2: The Saints make big plays on defense

Finally, it’s time to celebrate. This prediction did come true. The New Orleans Saints improved their defense immensely and became one of the strongest and most feared units in the league. After being betrayed by their defense all the time, the Saints righted the ship.

Dennis Allen improved as a coordinator, strengthening the unit overall. The team worked on improving the guys they had and signed quality free agents such as A.J. Klein and Alex Okafor. Most notably, the team drafted Marshon Lattimore, a young cornerback who exceeded all expectations we had for him.

The team drafted multiple defensive players who quickly made an impact. The defense did make plays including interceptions, sacks, tackles and played toe-to-toe with some of the best. Hopefully, this prediction carries into next season.

Prediction 3: The New Orleans Saints have a record better than 7-9

2-of-3 predictions isn’t bad. Thankfully, my last prediction was the Saints finishing with a better record than 7-9. The team finished the 2017 season with an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. It was everything fans had been hoping for and more.

The Saints changed their offense vastly but for the better. Instead of relying on the passing game, the Saints went to the ground. With Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara in the backfield, they had one of the best run games in the league. Their passing game suffered a bit but Michael Thomas and Kamara made up for it.

Defensively, they were light years ahead of where they were before. It was exciting to watch the young defense flourish. They got pressure, turnovers and made other teams nervous. In addition, their special teams were decent but still made a few plays.

Next: NFL Draft 2018: Biggest steals for each team

The New Orleans Saints had a fantastic 2017 season. The team was confident, determined and proved all their haters wrong. It was amazing to watch the team grow and flourish. Hopefully, 2018 proves to be full of even more excitement and a chance at the Lombardi Trophy!