When CJ Gardner-Johnson was a member of the Florida Gators defense in college, the question could've been framed as: What's the real DBU.
The Saints' firebrand nickel corner didn't have a flashy nickname for his current group after a statement win over the Bucs in Week 15, but that didn't make his actual statement any less compelling.
"I feel like we’ve got the best secondary right now in the league, regardless of stats," Gardner-Johnson said. "You can just go out there and pitch a shutout on one of the best quarterbacks in the league. ... We love what we do."
It's a bold pronouncement for a member of a 7-7 team to make, but one that certainly passes the eye test after a road shutout of what had entered as the NFL's top offense. Even with the caveat that each of Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette either didn't play or left with injuries, it takes a special type of performance to make Tom Brady look pedestrian. It takes an even more special type of performance to make the prospect of him putting up any points at all seem impossible.
Let's put it this way: Not many teams can fluster a 7-time champion to the point that he smashes a tablet on the sideline after getting a well-earned mean-mug by a defensive back between plays.
But that's exactly what the Saints did as they put a stamp on what now feels like good odds for this beleaguered team to fight into the postseason against what feels like every possible scenario working against them. But even Gardner-Johnson's statement indicates he's aware that the stats don't quite bear out what he said.
Gardner-Johnson's Deion Sanders-esque interception slammed the door on any thoughts of a rally, but a lack of takeaways has been a clear trouble point for a defensive group that needs to prop up a scuffling offense. The Saints' 15 interceptions ranks them 6th in the league, with the Cowboys leading the way at 23. The Saints' 82.5 passer-rating allowed is 5th-best in the league. The group ranks in the top half of most meaningful categories, but the best?
“You know who you are and you don’t fake it," Gardner-Johnson said. "You don’t fake it to nobody. And I think that’s the problem with everybody when they look at this team."
Related
There's no question the talent is there. Marshon Lattimore is an elite cover corner. The duo of Bradley Roby and rookie Paulson Adebo has filled in well across from him. Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins represent one of the consistent safety duos in the league, and Gardner-Johnson's relentless energy and attitude is tough to match anywhere. Many of the league's top defensive groups have also benefitted from high-powered offenses controlling the ball, such as the Bills and Josh Allen, the Cowboys and Dak Prescott or the Rams and Matt Stafford.
The Saints have been inconsistent on offense more often than not, particularly since Jameis Winston went down with a season-ending injury. Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill have filled in gamely since, but any quarterback would struggle with limited play-making threats at WR and an absence of Michael Thomas for the entire season, and Alvin Kamara for four games.
Related
That's put an undue workload and level of pressure on a defensive group that's been plagued by injuries in its own right. Lattimore missed a game and battled through a broken hand. Gardner-Johnson missed four games with a foot injury. The pass rush has been a revolving door. But the defense rose up when it needed it most, and appears primed to fuel a playoff surge over the final month of the season.
The pass-rush also plays a role. When it's feasting like it was on Sunday and forcing Tom Brady to do things like scramble with the ball, good things happen. That was the case in the third quarter when Cam Jordan chased down the QB from behind and stripped the ball, which Lattimore recovered for a momentum-seizing turnover.
"They gonna eat up front," Gardner-Johnson said. "We gonna eat up on the back-end."
The best in the NFL? Who knows, and honestly, who cares? The defense doesn't face off with defenses. But it's a secondary and a defense that can win games on its own. Any team and fanbase would sign on for that in a heartbeat.
"We know what we are," Gardner-Johnson said. "If you feel like we’re underdogs now, you’re in for a rude awakening.”