The most overrated NFL team from every division in 2022
By Randy Gurzi
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
It was understandable what the New Orleans Saints were thinking. When Sean Payton retired, they decided to promote Dennis Allen and in doing so, they kept the majority of their staff intact. It wasn’t a bad move at all, but it also won’t bring them much change — and right now, they could use that.
Even with Payton, they weren’t exactly threatening to win it all. Jameis Winston was doing fine under center and they did still pull off a winning season at 9-8. However, they were in a division that had two bad teams in the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers.
On top of that, they now have to worry about Winston returning from a torn ACL and Alvin Kamara potentially being out for the start of the season due to a suspension.
Another factor being overlooked is how much Payton meant to this team. Sure, Allen will run the same defense and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is still there but it won’t be the same. For anyone needing proof of this, all you have to do is look at the 2012 season when Payton was suspended due to BountyGate.
New Orleans had just reeled off three-straight seasons with at least 11 wins — and they were 13-3 in 2011. Without Payton, they finished 7-9. Once he was back in 2013, they again had success, going 11-5.
The scheme might be the same but Payton is a brilliant football mind and it will be hard to just keep things the same without him.