Despite their 0-4 start to the 2025 season, the New Orleans Saints have reasons to be positive for the future.
Week 3 was a depressing affair for Saints fans.
After plenty of flashes in the first two games, the blow-out in Seattle against the middle-of-the-road Seahawks was either a wake-up call or a brutal dose of reality.
As as fan, and a writer, I try to stay positive even in the face of despair. But let us face it, the Seahawks game was despair personified for black and gold fans.
The Buffalo Bills are my pick for the Super Bowl this year. A match-up with the AFC giants was sure to only pile on the anguish, right?
Well, no. The Saints may have walked away with their fourth loss of the season but they looked like a team that deserved to be playing in the NFL.
Not only this, but there were performances to be excited about.
We need to talk about Jonas
Rookie safety Jonas Sanker was a revelation. The first interception of his career might be the highlight of his game on paper but his pass breakups were a thing of beauty.
Sure, he missed five tackles, but he is a rookie. This will improve. The skill he showed tracking his receivers and breaking up the pass with barely a finger laid on them was superb.
Over the last few years, I have seen far too many pass interference calls against the New Orleans secondary so this was a breath of fresh air.
With the retirement of Tyrann Mathieu this season and no true lockdown corner in the defensive back room after the trade of corner Marson Lattimore, Sanker’s ascendence is huge.
On the other side of the ball, the Saints finally fielded their starting offensive line. And it looked pretty good. Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr continues to play well beyond his years. When you do not spot an offensive lineman for most of the game, you know they are doing a good job.
And spare a moment for Trevor Penning. The former left tackle has struggled since being drafted high. This year, he has moved inside to guard and without doubt had the best game of his career.
He is a mauler and was moving people all night. If he continues improving like this, the O-line could turn into a real strength for New Orleans.
Rattler: ceiling or floor?
Last year, quarterback Spencer Rattler left almost everything to be desired.
So far in 2025, he might not have won over every member of the ‘Who Dat’ nation but I do not know of a single fan who would tell you that he is not putting every fibre of his being into his performance on the field.
His ball placement is still consistent only in that it is always inconsistent. A sure-fire touchdown to a wide-open Brandin Cooks was delivered, as is all too common, about a foot behind where it needed to be. But he will stand there in the pocket and deliver the ball a split second before he knows he will be laid out by an incoming defender.
He had great vision scrambling against the Bills, often picking up critical yards, although you could argue that he would not have needed to scramble so often if he has spotted the open receiver.
Spencer is one of those quarterbacks that will keep a very good team on track when needed. Unfortunately, the New Orleans Saints are not yet a very good team. He can maintain but not elevate, at least currently. Have we seen his ceiling or is there more?
Onto the Giants
New Orleans will be hoping this weekend brings the first win of the season. Currently holding the number one pick in the 2026 draft, Sunday could go either way.
I can imagine the cheer for Giants back-up QB Jameis Winston will be louder than for many of his old teammates in the black and gold.
Starting QB Jaxson Dart, whom the Saints passed on in the draft in favour of Kelvin Banks Jr, will look to silence the New Orleans faithful in the Superdome.
But after last Sunday, I have faith that this could be a close game. Neither team may be battling for a championship any time soon but often, those games are hugely entertaining, both with something to prove.
I do not think we can hope for anything close to the 13 combined touchdowns we saw in the Brees/Manning era, but show us the fight. Show us the passion. Show us the future is yet to be written.
And, oh yeah, did I mention Taysom Hill is back? Who Dat!
