New Orleans Saints Week 17 Preview

Introduction

As the New Orleans Saints gear up for their Week 17 showdown, we take a moment to reflect on the rollercoaster ride that was Week 16. After a hard-fought battle against the Los Angeles Rams that ended in a 30-22 defeat, the Saints are looking to bounce back and finish the season strong. With the playoffs looming, every statistic counts, and the Saints will need to tighten their game if they want to turn their fortunes around. Let’s dive into the numbers and see how they stack up against last week’s performance.

Power Ranking

The Saints find themselves sitting at a power ranking of 16, which, as we all know, places them right in the middle of the pack—definitely not where we want to be. With a win rate of 49.0% against a median opponent, it’s clear that consistency has been an issue. This ranking reflects the struggles we’ve faced throughout the season, especially in critical moments. As we head into Week 17, a strong performance could help us climb back into the upper echelon of teams, where we truly belong.

Overall Drive Efficiency

Our overall drive efficiency ranking is currently sitting at 15, which is just a hair above the bottom half of the league. While our defense has shown flashes of brilliance, our offense has struggled to sustain drives effectively. In Week 16, we managed 339 yards but only converted that into 22 points. This inefficiency needs to be addressed if we want to put ourselves in a position to win in Week 17. We must find ways to capitalize on our opportunities and convert drives into touchdowns rather than field goals.

Defensive Drive Efficiency

On the defensive side of the ball, we rank 11th in defensive drive efficiency. This is a solid position and indicates that our defense has been effective at preventing opposing offenses from marching down the field. However, the Rams managed to rack up 458 yards against us last week, which shows that we need to tighten up our coverage and tackle better in the open field. If we can maintain this defensive efficiency while improving our offensive output, we could be a dangerous team in the playoffs.

Offensive Drive Efficiency

Unfortunately, our offensive drive efficiency leaves much to be desired, as we currently sit at 22nd in the league. This ranking is a direct reflection of our struggles to convert drives into points. The Saints must find a way to get into a rhythm and execute better on offense. We need to establish a strong running game while also taking calculated risks in the passing game. The good news is that we have the talent to do it; we just need to put it all together.

Defensive Turnover Efficiency

Our defensive turnover efficiency ranks 12th, which is commendable. It shows that we have the capability to create turnovers and give our offense more opportunities. However, we need to capitalize on these chances when they arise. In Week 16, the Rams didn’t turn the ball over at all, which allowed them to maintain control of the game. If we can force turnovers in our upcoming matchup, it could be the difference between victory and defeat.

Offensive Turnover Efficiency

The Saints rank 8th in offensive turnover efficiency, which is a silver lining in an otherwise challenging season. This means we have been relatively good at protecting the ball, but the one turnover we did have last week proved costly. In the critical moments of the game, we need to ensure that we are making smart decisions and minimizing mistakes. If we can continue to protect the football while finding ways to score, we’ll be in a much better position moving forward.

Drive Time

Our drive time ranks 17th, indicating that we are taking a moderate amount of time to move the ball down the field. While this can be beneficial for controlling the clock, we need to find a balance between efficiency and urgency. In Week 16, our drives were too methodical, allowing the Rams to dictate the pace of the game. We need to be more aggressive and find ways to score quickly when the opportunity arises, especially as we head into a must-win game in Week 17.

Preview For Next Week

Looking ahead to Week 17, we will be facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are favored by 2.5 points. The simulations from advancedfootballstats.com predict a close matchup, with the Buccaneers expected to score around 27 points and the Saints projected to put up about 20. However, there’s a glimmer of hope, as our simulations suggest that we have a 52.75% chance to cover the spread. If we can improve our offensive efficiency and tighten up our defense, we could very well pull off the upset. The key will be to establish a strong running game early and keep the Buccaneers’ potent offense off the field.

Conclusion

As we prepare for this pivotal matchup against the Buccaneers, it’s clear that we have our work cut out for us. The numbers indicate areas for improvement, but they also highlight our strengths. If the Saints can harness their defensive prowess and find a way to ignite their offense, they can turn their season around with a strong finish. Let’s rally together, Saints fans, and hope for a strong performance in Week 17!

Stay tuned to advancedfootballstats.com for more data-driven insights and analysis as we continue to follow the New Orleans Saints' journey throughout the 2023 NFL season.