New Orleans Saints: Why They Might Miss the Playoffs

Since the arrival of Sean Payton and Drew Brees in New Orleans, the Saints have been one of the most dominant teams in the NFL, even hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLIV. But last year, especially in the playoffs, the Saints were exploited. Even though this team still has the ability to compete for the title and the players to remain elite, here are a few reasons the Saints might miss the playoffs in 2011.

Defense

The defense was exposed in the playoffs last season against the lowly Seattle Seahawks, especially safety Roman Harper. Harper re-signed with the Saints this past week so look forward to seeing him start this upcoming season. If he has any more games like that and it could be a long season for the Saints.

Also, the turnover numbers were extremely different from their Super Bowl season, which greatly affected the team as well. In 2009, the Saints picked off opposing quarterbacks 26 times, while only getting nine picks in 2010. Turnovers were key to a Super Bowl run and the Saints will need to get back to being stingy if they want to win it all again.

Drew Brees

Drew Brees has been one of the best players in the NFL since joining the Saints in 2006. He has led the team to two NFC championships and one Super Bowl title, while being selected to four Pro Bowls. Also, he challenged Dan Marino's single-season passing yard record in 2008 when he threw for 5,069 yards, finishing just fifteen yards short of the record.

The concern is he's coming off a season in which he had a career high in interceptions with 22. He still put up Brees-like numbers in yards and touchdowns, but showed trouble with his decision making last season, which could get worse as he gets older.

Mark Ingram

The Saints surprised many people when they jumped back into the first round to draft Mark Ingram. A former Heisman winner, Ingram was one of the most dominant college rushers in the country, with his mix of strength and agility.

The Saints even got rid of Reggie Bush, a key component in their Super Bowl run despite being considered by most a bust. Ingram's an early candidate for Rookie of the Year and has a lot of weight on his shoulders in just his first season. If he cracks under the pressure, the season could end for the Saints sooner rather than later.

Injuries

Chris Ivory, Reggie Bush, Randall Gay, Will Smith, Roman Harper, Pierre Thomas, Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Darren Sharper, Jeremy Shockey...What do all these players have in common? They were all key players for the Saints who missed at least a game due to an injury last season.

Injuries are unavoidable in pro football, but when some of your top players from both sides of the ball go down, it can lead to disaster. Luckily for the Saints, they didn't lose Drew Brees. Without him, last season could have been horrible to watch as a fan, and even worse for the players. If the Saints stay healthy, they can continue to remain elite.

Competition

Year after year, the NFC South shows it's one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL. And next year won't be any different.

The Atlanta Falcons, the defending NFC South champs, seem to have gotten better. I even see Matt Ryan busting through as an MVP candidate. The Buccaneers barely missed the playoffs last year, but they're young with tons of potential.

The Panthers season depends on the production of first overall draft pick Cam Newton. If he's the superstar that Carolina is hoping for, then they might not only compete for a playoff spot but even a Super Bowl. If he turns out to be a bust, he still has the ability to be a headache for the Saints in the future.