2018 NFL Power Rankings: Eagles no longer on top after Week 2 of preseason

9. New Orleans Saints

Hope seemed lost early on for the New Orleans Saints at the beginning of last season after the team lost their first two games before turning things around real fast by going on to win eight in a row. Normally, the offense has been the major strength of the Saints over the years, and while the unit certainly came up big once again last year, it was the defense that ended up being the major difference maker.

As bad as it sounds, the defense of New Orleans was flat out awful leading up to last season, and the team deserves plenty of credit for improving the unit heading into 2017 thanks to a successful draft. Players like Marshon Lattimore will be key once again to the team’s success this upcoming season, and it’s safe to say the Saints will be hungrier than ever when remembering how they were eliminated from the playoffs last January.

Through two preseason games, New Orleans has been taking the safe approach by letting Drew Brees rest since Sean Payton doesn’t have to worry about his quarterback needing the extra reps. Even at his older age, Brees is still playing some of the best football of his career, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.