Saints Proving to Be NFC South's Best Team by Default

Despite a 2-3 start to the season and being one game behind the 3-2 Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints are currently the best team in the NFC South. 

A Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback, weapons all over the field, strong offensive line play, a tremendous home-field advantage and poor defense throughout the division give the Saints an edge over their rivals. 

It didn't look as though the Saints were the best team on the field at times Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New Orleans squandered an early 13-point lead and eventually surrendered 24 straight points before roaring back in the fourth quarter and claiming 37-31 overtime victory. 

But the Saints' flaws are obvious, while their strengths are among the best in the NFL. 

Drew Brees still has complete command of the offense. The Saints quarterback isn't simply good; he's historically good. A New Orleans Saints tweet highlighted Brees achieving a history-making stat during this matchup:

The Saints' signal-caller made multiple mistakes in the game, but it's a credit to the Buccaneers' defense which consistently moved the quarterback off his spot. Despite Tampa Bay's aggressive approach, Brees still led an offense which finished with 511 total yards. 

The NFC South isn't short on quarterback talent, though.

Player	Comp. %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Drew Brees	61.4	371	2	3
Mike Glennon	59.4	249	2	1
Cam Newton	54.3	255	2	1
Matt Ryan	64.4	316	1	1

The Buccaneers' Mike Glennon played admirably, but he lacks the accuracy and experience of Brees. The Panthers' Cam Newton is one of the most physically talented players in the NFL, but he's not currently healthy and he's not expected to be during the rest of the season. In Atlanta, the Falcons' Matt Ryan is playing at a high level, but his surrounding cast, particularly his offensive line, is questionable. 

Atlanta's offensive line has been completely mangled by injuries, while both Carolina and Tampa Bay's units have yet to completely jell. 

Bill Haber/Associated Press

The Saints, on the other hand, own a very talented offensive line. Ben Grubbs and Jahri Evans are one of the best guard tandems in the NFL. Terron Armstead is an athletic blindside protector. Center Jonathan Goodwin and right tackle Zach Strief are consistent veterans well-versed in the Saints' offensive scheme. This gives the Saints another edge over the rest of the division. 

An area where the Falcons can compete with the Saints is at the skill positions. Julio Jones, Devin Hester and Roddy White (when he's healthy) are arguably the best wide receiver corps in the NFL. Yet the Falcons aren't as talented as the Saints at tight end or running back. Tight end Jimmy Graham, in particular, is a massive X-factor in the Saints' favor. 

The Saints' rushing attack was extremely impressive against the Buccaneers, too. Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas together averaged 4.96 yards per carry, which is an extension of solid offensive line play. Six of the Saints' last eight plays in overtime were running plays which culminated with an 18-yard touchdown romp by Robinson. 

But while offense wins games, it's often said that "Defense wins championships."

The biggest flaw of Sean Payton's squad is a porous defense. This is less of a hindrance in the NFC South than any other division in football. The defenses across the division are below-average to very poor. All four ranked 24th overall or lower in total defense entering this weekend's games.

None of the units appeared to turn it around Sunday, but the Saints' disheveled defense was the best of the bunch. 

Team	Opponent	Total Yards Allowed	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards
Saints	Bucs	314	66	248
Buccaneers	Saints	511	140	371
Panthers	Bears	347	85	262
Falcons	Giants	317	124	193

A poor defense doesn't travel well, while a strong offense is even better at home in the warm confines of a dome. The Saints and the Falcons have been very good at home in recent years, but the Superdome is one of the NFL's best home-field advantages. ESPN Stats and Info shared just how successful the Saints have been at home under Payton:

The Saints now enter a bye week after their victory over the Buccaneers. It's an opportunity for the team to address its issues on defense and when it travels to other stadiums. Once the Saints return in Week 7, six of the team's final 11 games are at the Superdome, including season-defining contests against the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. 

The Saints have more than enough talent on offense, a strong home-field advantage and just enough defense to claim another NFC South crown.