The New Orleans Saints went into their bye week 3-2, which is a small miracle given their obstacles early in the season. Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith were injured leading to an insane workload for Alvin Kamara, Jameis Winston was learning an offense implemented by Sean Payton (who was still figuring out Winston himself), and one of the Saints’ best defensive linemen was suspended in David Onyemata.
In spite of all of that, the Saints find themselves second in the NFC South, half a game ahead of a Carolina Panthers team that started 3-0 and is now .