Power Rankings Roundup: The Saints Continue To Fall

Things just aren't going well for the New Orleans Saints. After seven games, the Saints are dead last in the NFC South, and the season is a disappointment. The team has kicked away opportunities to win games and instead of being a team turning the corner and changing their culture has reverted back to bad habits. 

How does the NFL media view the Saints after seven weeks?

ESPN.com: The Saints fall one spot to #25

ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell named cornerback Martin Emerson, Jr as the team's best offseason addition.

"Linebacker Kaden Elliss and guard David Edwards were two of the Saints' major free agent signings, but on Sunday, the team rushed for 18 yards and gave up 148 rushing yards despite Elliss returning from a calf injury. The pleasant surprise the past few weeks has been Emerson. The former Brown started the season as a backup but ranks second on the Saints in pass breakups (four), is tied for first with two interceptions and has one forced fumble. He earned a starting role in Paris after being named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6."

NFL.com: The Saints drop three spots to #23

Nick Shook of NFL.com has the Saints slotted behind Dallas and laments the special teams gaffes.

"The Saints have become a team that gives its best effort but just doesn’t seem to have enough collectively to beat most opponents. Sunday’s Paris game was certainly winnable, but when operating with a smaller margin for error, the small misses -- a Daniel Carlson field goal attempt that missed wide right, a four-and-out on their final possession in a one-score game -- become magnified. A complete lack of a running game (18 net yards vs. Pittsburgh) doesn’t help, either."

Bleacher Report: The Saints drop one spot to #25

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report drops the Saints into the bottom seven in the NFL. 

"Heading into 2026, the New Orleans Saints felt like a team that was poised to make a big jump. After seven weeks, it's clear that New Orleans is still at least a year away from being a legitimate contender."

"Tyler Shough showed franchise-quarterback potential late in his rookie campaign, and he's largely built on last year's success this season. However, he hasn't been perfect enough to consistently carry an offense that has struggled to move the ball on the ground. On Sunday, he made a couple of big red-zone mistakes that cost the Saints in a very tight contest."

"Defensively, New Orleans has been a total disappointment. The Saints entered Week 7 ranked 29th in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed. While they did hold the Pittsburgh Steelers to 16 points, they coughed up 343 total yards and allowed Pittsburgh to convert 10 of 16 third-down attempts."

"Franchise owner Gayle Benson told reporters earlier in the season that the Saints "must do better.""

"If things don't start to change on the field before the end of the season, changes to the front office could come after it."