Saints Second-Half Bold Predictions

New Orleans makes the playoffs? Cam Jordan's final 2023 sack total? Here are our bold predictions for the second half of the Saints' season.

With 9 games down and a 5-4 record for the New Orleans Saints, expectations are that the team will continue to take steps in the right direction. With the Minnesota Vikings up next, the Saints could go into their bye week with a pivotal 3-game win streak. But even though that goal feels achievable, our focus in this piece is to look at the bold predictions ahead of New Orleans.

Whether individual or team related, it is time to turn up the heat and see what the Saints News Network writers think could be in store for the second half of the Saints' season.

Derek Carr celebrates Taysom Hill's touchdown catch against the Chicago Bears / Nov 5, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts to quarterback Taysom Hill (7) making a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the first half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle T. Mosley

Growing up in NOLA, Kool-Aid was our beverage of choice in the 'hood. Today, I'm drinking the Kool-Aid about the New Orleans Saints. The NFL will know the Saints are a playoff-caliber team after cruising to four straight wins over the Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, and Carolina Panthers. By then, the Saints will have at least a two-game lead in the NFC South. The next four will test the team's mental fortitude. Why? They can easily slip against the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, they should defeat the New York Giants and Falcons, with the 2023 NFC South title at 12-5, ready to host in the NFC Divisional round.

Bob Rose

It feels like we are finally starting to see the Saints offense many expected to see from the beginning of the year. The biggest two questions are whether they can keep progressing and if a sketchy offensive line can hold up.

I predict that Derek Carr and his receivers will make up one of the league's most productive passing attacks down the stretch and the running game will be efficient enough to make this a top-tier offense. 

Defensively, this Saints secondary is really feeling it. They will need more from the pass rush, but I think they'll do that with more blitzing to create disruption. 

All this will equal up to New Orleans being one of the league's hottest teams down the stretch. The Saints will (finally) take advantage of a favorable schedule to finish the year at 11-6 and the NFC's #2 seed going into the playoffs.

John Hendrix 

The Saints will win the NFC South and at least get the 2nd Seed. Call me the ultimate 'glass half full' guy here, but I feel like the best is yet to come for New Orleans. The way things shape up for them during the back half of the year leads me to believe that they can really make a push to not only win the division, but also snag one of the NFC's top spots in the playoffs. A lot of these teams are showing signs of weakness, and it is always about how you play down the stretch. The Philadelphia Eagles probably feels like the favorite here, but I think New Orleans can get behind them. If they get past the Lions at home, then you should maybe be sold too.

Ross Jackson

While I have some trouble buying into a team that has not reliably displayed consistency since 2020, I have no issues buying into a player that has been the model of such since 2012. Defensive end Cameron Jordan will finish the season with 8-10 sacks. 

With only 2 sacks through the first 9 games of the season, Jordan is on pace for his lowest sack output since 2011. Since 2012, he has not finished a year with less than 7.5 sacks. Despite the slower start here in 2023, my bold prediction is that Jordan will again cross that threshold before the season is out. He has put together at least one three or more sack-game every year since 2019. With matchups coming up against familiar opponents soon, one such contest will get the future Hall of Famer defensive end back on track.