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Reality Check: Saints
October 1, 2009 12:00 PM
Other 3-0 teams: Giants | Vikings | Saints | Jets | Ravens | Colts | Broncos
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
Are the Saints for real? The NFL Blog Network breaks down each of the seven teams that started the season 3-0.
What they’ve accomplished: The 3-0 start is probably better than any realistic expectation in the preseason. The Saints were supposed to be without starting defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant for the first four games, but the NFL decided on the eve of the season to at least postpone their suspensions. Although Smith and Grant have been painted as underachievers in the past, they’re playing well as part of a rebuilt New Orleans defense. That’s been a key in the fast start as the Saints have had road wins against Buffalo and Philadelphia. The defense has gotten better each game and the Buffalo win showed the Saints don’t always need to rely on their offense. There also has been a little luck involved with the Saints facing Matthew Stafford and Kevin Kolb in their first career starts. But this team is in line for a little luck after going through a bunch of injuries and a brutal schedule that featured an international game last year.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post?id=3411