New Orleans Saints: Why the Saints Have Won 6 Games in a Row

The New Orleans Saints are the hottest team in the NFL right now because of Drew Brees, the offense’s great play and the defense's bend-don’t-break attitude.

The Saints’ offense has played outstanding all season long and the stats prove it, but it’s largely in part because of the defense's improvements for the Saints current winning streak.

The Saints have won six games in a row, rank first in the league in passing yards per game, rank eighth in the league in rushing yards per game and are on their way to winning another Super Bowl.

Here are the five reasons why the Saints went from a 5-3 playoff team to an 11-3 Super Bowl contender.

Drew Brees

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know what kind of a year Drew Brees is having.

I believe he is just as worthy of the MVP as Aaron Rodgers is. Brees is only 305 yards away from shattering Dan Marino’s yards in a single season record, and he will most likely break it this Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

Over this six-game stretch, Brees has played the finest football in his career. Over the stretch, Brees averaged 339 yards per game, had 18 passing touchdowns and only one interception.

In a league that’s proven to be governed by quarterbacks and the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in recent years—a team is typically only as good as its quarterback.

I’d say the Saints are pretty darn good.

Improved Rush Defense

We all know that the Saints’ defense isn’t the strength of the team, but they’ve been playing great through this winning streak.

The past two weeks they faced two of the best running backs in the league in Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson, and they shut down both running backs.

Johnson had 11 rushes for 23 yards against the Saints two weeks ago, and Peterson had 60 yards on 10 carries. Neither running back had a touchdown, either.

One thing’s for sure about the Saints’ defense over the course of this streak: They’ve improved their rush defense. They’ve given up only 91 yards per game during the streak against some of the best running backs in the league.

Malcolm Jenkins’ Brilliant Player

There’s not a whole lot of superstars on the Saints’ defense, and if the Saints ever get recognition it generally goes out to Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma or Will Smith.

So let me be the first to say that Malcolm Jenkins is having an incredible season. Jenkins is all over the field every time the Saints play.

He’s had great coverage all season long, and he’s never shy to lay the boom on a receiver down the field.

But Jenkins has 62 tackles this season and has somewhat gone unnoticed for his great play.

Jenkins has had a great season and he is one of the many reasons why the Saints have been so successful recently.

Only 3 Turnovers

Ball security is crucial, and the Saints have done a fine job of taking care of the football in the past six games.

In fact, the Saints have done a good job of taking care of the ball season long. The Saints have only fumbled the ball five times this season, and if they can take care of the football in these last two games, they’ll break the record of fewest fumbles in a season (seven).

During the Saints’ winning streak, they’ve only turned the ball over three times.

Given the fact that the Saints' defense is dead last in the league in forcing turnovers, it’s important for the Saints to take good care of the football.

Schemes

Is there a better play-caller in the league than Sean Payton?

Payton and Brees gel so well together, and it seems like both guys are always on the same page. It’s like Payton has his offensive coordinator out there, and he’s always relaying the perfect play call on the field.

The recent schemes of balancing out the run to set up the deep passes down the field have worked like a charm, and the defensive strategies by Greg Williams have worked as well.

Williams has been keying in on the rushing game of the opposing teams and has shut them down for the most part.

The Saints have great players, but their coaches have put them in the perfect position to win multiple football games this year.