Lions vs Saints: Why New Orleans Is Setting Up for a Second Super Bowl Title

The New Orleans Saints beat the Detroit Lions, 31-17, on Sunday night to win their fourth in a row and improve to 9-3. Right now, New Orleans is on a roll and looks as good as anyone other than the Green Bay Packers.

But let's remember, the Saints barely lost to Green Bay, 42-34, in Week 1, and certainly looks like a team that could compete with the Packers.

If the Saints were able to get by the Packers in the playoffs, I believe it would set up an easy Super Bowl win. Right now, New Orleans isn't in position to earn a bye to open the postseason, but given the relative ease of its final four games (on the road at Tennessee and Minnesota, then home with Atlanta and Carolina), a 13-3 record is very much in the cards. 

If the Saints finish 13-3, I have to believe they will best San Francisco for the No. 2 seed. That would almost assure us of an NFC title showdown with Green Bay at Lambeau Field in a rematch of that exciting Week 1 tilt.

The Saints are rolling right now thanks to their offense, which currently leads the NFL in total yards (448.7 yards per game) and is second in points per game (32.8). New Orleans also boasts the league's top passing attack (325.3 yards per game) and eighth-ranked rushing attack (123.3 yards per game).

While he has a ton of weapons at his disposal, quarterback Drew Brees is having another outstanding season in his own right. Through 12 games, he has completed 349 of 496 passes for an NFL best 4,031 yards, with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He is second in the NFL in completion percentage (70.4) and third in quarterback rating (105.5). 

With Brees and the offense firing on all cylinders, the Saints pose the biggest threat to the Packers. And if New Orleans can win the NFC, they would almost assuredly be the favorites no matter who they faced in the Super Bowl.