Quarterback Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos in action against the New Orleans Saints (Photo by Gus Stark/Getty Images)
Drew Brees still has optimism in the New Orleans Saints. Although the Saints are 2-5 and have lost five straight games since starting the season 2-0, Brees says injuries have contributed to their demise. Furthermore, they're still only two games behind the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two teams they've already faced this season.
"Yeah, I do. I think it's wide open," "Brees says in a one-on-one interview with RG while speaking on behalf of his partnership with CarGurus when asked if the Saints still have a chance to win the NFC South. "There's so much that could happen from the first half of the season to the second half. All these divisional games – the Saints lost a close one to the Falcons in Atlanta, really a game they should have won. They lost to the Bucs two weeks ago in a game that just kind of got away from them. Missed a lot of starters. I think it's wide open for them, they're only two games out right now. There's a lot of football left to be played."
The Saints were the talk of the NFL after the first two weeks of the season. Not only did they start out undefeated, they were averaging 45.5 points per game while defeating their opponents of 91-29.
However, they've come back down to earth since, averaging just 17.2 points per game while the defense – previously a strong staple of the team – is allowing 30.2 points per game over their past five games. That's the third-worst mark in the NFL.
"The drop-back passing game was good, defense was playing lights out," says Brees. "All of a sudden, you start having some injuries and you have to kind of figure out different ways to move the ball and manufacture plays. Thing's just been a little tougher. I think for them, getting healthy is the big thing.
Brees mentions how the absence of Rashid Shaheed – who is now out for the season due to a knee injury – Chris Olave and starting quarterback Derek Carr, played a major role in their 33-10 defeat to the Denver Broncos. Carr will miss the team's Week 8 game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to an oblique injury, but is trending towards returning in Week 9.
"Offensively right now – like that last game – you're missing your top two receivers, you're missing your quarterback and you're down to your second or third-string interior lineman, center and two guards – that's tough," says Brees. "That's half your offense that's out. Defensively, it's kind of the same thing."
The absence of Carr and the inclusion of rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler in the starting lineup has resulted in growing pains. While Rattler looked impressive during the first half in his first start against the Buccaneers – the Saints actually led 27-24 at halftime – he came back down to earth in the second half as New Orleans eventually lost 51-27 without scoring a point in the third and fourth quarters.
Rattler – a fifth-round draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – has thrown one touchdown and two interceptions for a 70.7 passer rating in two starts.
While Brees is complimentary in Rattler – along with Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix – in their mobility and ability to extend plays, he stresses that both quarterbacks need to continue to grow when it comes to being pocket passers.
"It's interesting to see the two offenses – the Saints and the Broncos – with Klint Kubiak and Sean Payton," says Brees. "I think there's a lot of similarities between Spencer Rattler and Bo Nix. They're both really athletic guys. The Saints were under center a lot more. I think that's how they set up their run game and their play action. Spencer Rattler was on the move so much, throws the ball and runs very well – very similar to Bo. I think where both of those guys will need to make strides – just as any young player – is in the drawback passing game.
Brees stresses the ability to make your way through "progressions" is the key for both Rattler and Nix as they continue to develop as quarterbacks.
"Just the precision of working your way through progressions, getting the ball out of their hands, even in the moments where protection breaks down, which the O-Line for the Saints was really banged up," says Brees.
While both Nix and Rattler continue to be a work in progress as rookie quarterbacks, that isn't the case with the Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels. The second overall pick in the draft continues to set records with his efficiency, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history with consecutive games with at least an 85% completion rate along with setting the single-game rookie record with a 91.3% completion rate in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Commanders are off to a 5-2 start and currently lead the NFC East nearly halfway through the season.
"Jayden Daniels has been the most impressive by far," says Brees. "I think his success from the start until now has been pretty uncanny. He's operating at a very high level of efficiency – not just with completions – but making big plays and making big moments. Terry McLaurin is a guy who I alway felt is one of the best receivers in the league and maybe doesn't get the credit that other guys get, but if you didn't know about him, now you know. I think that connection between him and Jayden Daniels is really good."
Brees also made sure to compliment Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who is progressing into a better quarterback as his rookie season moves forward. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft had his best game of the season in their 35-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Williams threw four touchdown passes while throwing just six incompletions.
The former Super Bowl MVP knows a thing or two about high expectations as a young franchise quarterback, having played the role for the San Diego Chargers early in his career before moving on to the Saints. Brees didn't truly break out as a franchise quarterback until his fourth season in 2004 when he won Comeback Player of the Year and led the Chargers to the playoffs. During his first two seasons as starter, Brees compiled just a 10-17 record while throwing more interceptions (31) than touchdowns (28).
Brees makes sure to outline that so much of a quarterback's success – especially a rookie – depends upon what you have around you.
"So much of what happens to you as an NFL quarterback, especially early on, is what's happening around you," says Brees. "Best friend is a great run game with a great defense, right? That takes pressure off the quarterback. If you're a quarterback who all of a sudden has to score 40 points a game, that means you're having to take unnecessary chances – that means mistakes can be made. I think you just have to put all of that into perspective.
He mentions that the defensive units of the aforementioned quarterbacks are all pretty good. The Broncos have the third-best defense in the NFL, while the Bears rank fourth.
"But those teams are in positions where the Bears should have a good defense, Washington is playing inspired defense," says Brees. "When you do that and it just takes pressure off – like Bo Nix in Denver – when you have a lights out defense. Those things help."
Entering Week 8, Daniels, Williams and Nix all have winning records. We'll see if that remains the case as the season progresses.
DJ Siddiqi
