Sean Payton Injury: New Orleans Saints Will Thrive Despite Coach's Bum Knee

Don't worry about the New Orleans Saints; they will be just fine even without Sean Payton on the sidelines.

Payton tore his MCL and broke his tibia when Saints TE Jimmy Graham was pushed into him on the sidelines. Payton went down, and it was evident that he was seriously injured by the time the medical staff were able to get him to his feet.

According to WDSU 6, Payton has had successful surgery on his knee and will be available to coach from the press box against the Indianapolis Colts.

The injury obviously had a negative impact on the rest of the game for the Saints, who went most of the game without their play-caller.

Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. was forced to take over the play-calling duties, something that he definitely did not prepare for heading into the week. Calling the plays is a big deal, and something that you can't just pick up on the fly. It's not that Carmichael doesn't have the right mindset to call the plays; it's just not something he is used to at this moment in time.

He was far from prepared to call the plays. It showed as the Saints fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend.

Fortunately for him, he won't have to do that this weekend.

Payton will be in the box and will be responsible for all the play-calling duties in the team's next game. It will take a bit of adjustment for him to get used to coaching from the box again, but he will be ready to go, as will his team.

The Saints are still one of the premier teams in the NFL. They are two seasons removed from a Super Bowl win, and they still have Drew Brees.

Brees doesn't get as much attention as Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, but he is still one of the best QBs in the game. As long as the Saints have Brees on the field and Payton calling the plays, this team will be fine.

Expect a lopsided victory against the Saints as Payton gets his legs back under him.