Arguably no team has been a bigger surprise during the first two weeks of the NFL season than the New Orleans Saints. The Saints (2-0) are one of nine undefeated teams as they prepare to host the Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) on Sunday afternoon. Expectations for New Orleans (9-8 last season), which has missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons, were average at best before the current campaign started.
The Saints have defied the doubters so far with a 47-10 home win over the Carolina Panthers and a 44-19 road rout of the Dallas Cowboys. "I think everybody took offense to how we were viewed, on the outside and in our own city," New Orleans third-year head coach Dennis Allen said. "And rightfully so.
We haven't performed the way that I think we're capable of and so it was really incumbent on us to make some changes and play better and that's what we're in the process of doing." Saints quarterback Derek Carr and the offense have thrived under first-year coordinator Klint Kubiak. New Orleans leads the NFL in scoring with 91 points, 22 more than the next closest team, the Arizona Cardinals.
Carr paces the league in passer rating (142.4) and running back Alvin Kamara is tops in scoring (five touchdowns) and yards from scrimmage (290). The Saints' defense has more than held its own, ranking fourth in scoring (14.
5 points allowed per game), tied for fourth in yards allowed per play (4.5) and seventh in total yards allowed (273 per game). "The focus for us is let's not start patting o.