Saints Pass Rush Coming Alive Just in Time for Late Playoff Push

After struggling early in the season, the New Orleans Saints defense has begun to improve just in time for a postseason campaign.

Though the Saints pass rush was only ranked 27th in the league by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) heading into Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears, it improved its standing dramatically with a seven-sack performance. 

If that result was indicative of an emerging trend, New Orleans should be able to pressure, rush and hit its way to wins over the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the next two weeks and into the playoffs. 

Saints linebacker David Hawthorne led the way Monday, with three sacks on the night. 

That was as many as he had in the entire 2013 season.

Linebacker Junior Galette did his part to pitch in as well, adding another two onto the Saints' total. Defensive tackle John Jenkins and defensive end Akiem Hicks had the remaining two. 

Heading into Monday's game, the Saints had amassed 24 sacks on the season. But they were slow to come; through the first five games, New Orleans had just six sacks. It's worth noting that through six games in 2013, the Saints had amassed 20 sacks. 

At the season's midpoint, the defense began to pick up momentum before falling off again. Until Week 15.

Week	Total Sacks
Week 1 @ ATL	1
Week 2 @ CLE	1
Week 3 vs. MIN	2
Week 4 @ DAL	1
Week 5 vs. TB	1
Week 7 @ DET	3
Week 8 vs. GB	4
Week 9 @ CAR	4
Week 10 vs. SF	4
Week 11 vs. CIN	1
Week 12 vs. BAL	1
Week 13 @ PIT	1
Week 14 vs. CAR	0
Week 15 @ CHI	7

The Saints were able to get constant pressure on Jay Cutler Monday. That's a testament to the defense, considering that Pro Football Focus grades Chicago's offensive line's pass-blocking at 16th in the league—perfectly average but by no means terrible. 

The early struggle to rush the passer this season limited New Orleans' ability to create turnovers. Prior to Monday's matchup, the Saints were tied for 26th in the league in turnover differential, at minus-9. Their 13 takeaways were the third least in the league. 

But getting constant pressure on Cutler gave the Saints defense the ability to create opportunities. Cutler threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball once (though he recovered it). Meanwhile, Nick Toon lost a fumble for New Orleans, but Drew Brees did not turn the ball over once. 

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan can be pleased that the 15 points his squad allowed the Bears was the third fewest of the season, after it held the Minnesota Vikings to nine in Week 3 and the Carolina Panthers to 10 in Week 9. 

After a 41-10 drubbing by the Panthers in Week 14, Ryan was understandably frustrated with the unit, which is currently ranked No. 27. 

Ryan said after the loss, via Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com:

"

We have to get better than that. We will get better. We are all committed to this. It is every player.  It is every coach.  We are just working as hard as we can to get it right.

"

Get it right they did in Chicago, but it was against a team that has lost all hope of contending for the playoffs. Can the defense keep it going against Atlanta and get the pressure necessary on Matt Ryan to win that game?

Quarterback pressure was a huge part of the winning formula for New Orleans Monday night—one they'll attempt to replicate as they make a late-season playoff push. But with surprise performances from under-the-radar contributors like Hawthorne and mainstays like Galette continuing to play strong, the Saints can march into the postseason.