New Orleans Saints look unmistakably elite with Drew Brees back

Drew Brees made his faster-than-expected return for the New Orleans Saints and the team looks ready to run through anyone put before them.

Due to the thumb injury suffered in Week 2, Drew Brees was expected to hand over the reins of the New Orleans Saints offense to Teddy Bridgewater until Week 10. Instead, the veteran quarterback returned on Sunday for a Week 8 date at home against the Arizona Cardinals. And despite the injury on his throwing hand, it looked like he never left.

Brees looked phenomenal in his return for the Saints offense at the Superdome on Sunday, going 34-of-43 for 373 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception while guiding New Orleans to a dominant 31-9 win and moving Sean Payton‘s team to 7-1 on the season as they head into their bye week.

Perhaps more than anything, the win over the Cardinals proved something that was taking shape with Bridgewater starting at quarterback in Brees’ absence: The New Orleans Saints are one of the few elite teams in the NFL this season.

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Whatever way that the Saints need to beat you, they’re more than capable. In a tough win over the Dallas Cowboys, Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore and a defense that has shown flashes of being one of the best units in the league was lights out. Then there are other occasions when Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and this host of Saints weapons can turn it on — especially with the ever-reliable Brees returning.

In fact, the win over the Cardinals and the Week 7 victory against the Bears came without Kamara and with Latavius Murray stepping in. The backup running back didn’t miss a beat in either instance, topping 100 yards rushing in each outing and becoming a surprising threat in the passing game.

Even with Brees injured, what became evident is that this is a dangerously balanced and talented team. No matter what facet of the game you’re looking at, they have the pieces to be successful. The defensive front, the pass-catchers, the secondary, the backfield, the offensive line — it’s all there in the Big Easy.

As good as Bridgewater had been for the Saints, though, there’s still been a feeling that Brees could take them to another level once he returned. And while it was against Arizona, that seemed apparent on Sunday. There was an ease that New Orleans operated with that wasn’t quite there with the backup under center.

Because they’ve yet to suffer a loss (and rightfully so), much of the talk about elite teams has centered on the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. As good as those teams have been, though, the Saints have looked better than any of them of late. And if this only continues to improve as Brees gets back healthier, they’re going to be in the Super Bowl mix once the postseason rolls around.