The New Orleans Saints are good, but they're not that good. Their superiority in the NFC is buttressed by dominance within the walls of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. And though Drew Brees and Co. are 7-1 on the road this season, they are far more vulnerable away from home.
The Saints escaped Charlotte with a 12-9 victory Monday over a skidding Carolina Panthers squad at Bank of America Stadium. New Orleans finished its recent three-game road swing with a 2-1 record and emerged on the other side as the NFL's only 12-win team.