Just how much the Eagles have improved since their Week 11 shellacking at the hands of the New Orleans Saints has been well documented.
They are better on offense. They are better on defense. They are better at quarterback.
But what about the Saints?
The Eagles caught the Saints during the regular season at arguably the the high point of New Orleans' season. Prior to their win over the Eagles, the Saints had scored 45 and 51 points in consecutive games. After scoring 48 points against the Eagles, the Saints dropped 31 the following game on the Atlanta Falcons.
They have cooled off — somewhat — since then.
Here is a look at how the Saints have played both before-and-after their big win over the Saints.
Weeks 1-11
Record: 9-1
Average margin of victory: 14.3
Points Per Game: 37.8
Points Allowed per game: 23.9
Sacks allowed: 9 (0.9 per game)
Turnovers: 8 (0.8 per game)
Takeaways: 13 (1.3 per game)
Since Week 12: **Not including Week 17 since the starters didn't play**
Record: 4-1
Average margin of victory: 8.5
Points Per Game: 22.4
Points Allowed per game: 16.2
Sacks allowed: 6 (1.2 per game)
Turnovers: 7 (1.4 per game)
Takeaways: 11 (2.2 per game)
As you can see, the Saints are averaging considerably fewer points per game since their beatdown of the Eagles, to the tune of almost 16 less per game. Their defense has improved, however, allowing almost a touchdown less per game. The difference in turnovers is also noticeable — the Saints are both turning the ball over almost twice as much as before and taking it away almost twice as frequently per game as well.
Their play overall, outside of just the numbers, has also been far less dominant.
In their five games since their win over the Eagles, the Saints lost to the Dallas Cowboys, they needed 17-fourth quarter points to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they beat both the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers by a combined six points. They had six wins by double-digits in the first 11 games — they had just one in the final five, and that was their come from behind win over the Falcons.
None of this means the Eagles should be able to go into New Orleans and hand the Saints a beatdown of their own. Even though they are not playing as well as they were prior to Week 11, they are still an elite team. Playing in New Orleans might be the toughest venue in the NFL right now.
What it does mean, however, is that the combination of the Eagles' improvement with the Saints' drop in play should create a much more competitive — and winnable — game.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
