The New Orleans Saints are one of three 1-0 teams in the NFC South after Week 1. So who rises to the top of that pack between the Saints, Bucs and Falcons?
If you ask FOX analyst Charles Woodson, it's the Saints, for one specific -- and mildly hilarious -- reason.
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"Who dat. I like the Saints, man. I like Derek Carr being there," Woodson said. "I think he comes in as the best quarterback in that division. Derek Carr has played with some teams with piss-poor defenses, and I know because I was a part of a couple of them."
Woodson, a former No. 4 overall pick and 9-time Pro Bowler, finished the final two seasons of his career as a teammate of Carr's in 2014 and 2015. In that 2014 season, with now-Saints head coach Dennis Allen at the helm, the Raiders finished dead last in scoring defense with an average of 28.3 points allowed per game. They improved to the No. 22 scoring defense the following season with an average of 24.9 per game, but the point stands: His current defense will be doing him a lot more favors.
"He’s never played with a defense that’s been one of the top in scoring defenses in the league, but now he gets to play with the Saints who’s been in the top of the scoring defenses the last three years," Woodson continued. "He’s going to be able to play with some leads, now, and keep the lead and not worry about having to go out and bring teams back."
Woodson also noted the weapons that Carr will be playing with, including Chris Olave, a rejuvenated Michael Thomas and a star RB in Alvin Kamara whom he expects to come back "hungry" following a three-game suspension to start the year.
The Saints kicked off the season with the type of win Woodson likely sees a lot more of with Carr in New Orleans than with the Raiders, a defense-led 16-15 defeat of the Titans, a game that featured five Tennessee field goals and no touchdowns. The Saints continue their 2023 slate this week against the Carolina Panthers and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young on Monday Night Football.
