For the first time in the Sean Payton era, the Saints will be operating their offense without future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees for multiple meaningful games. That means Payton faces his biggest on-field coaching challenge since the duo arrived together in New Orleans in 2006.
The Saints don't need to try to dominate — and can't be expected to do so — over the next six games, which Brees is certain to miss after needing surgery to repair the ligament he tore in his right thumb early in Sunday's 27-9 loss at the Rams.
They just need to survive the stretch to keep their chances to advance to the playoffs alive and well when he returns healthy.
Conventional wisdom says to trust in backup Teddy Bridgewater, once a semi-successful Vikings starter, behind a strong offensive line, and to lean on their two elite playmakers, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas. That includes hoping Bridgewater can be much better when he's prepared to start vs. the major struggles in relief he had in Los Angeles.
But instead, Payton should use this an opportunity to feature Taysom Hill, turning a change-of-pace wrinkle into the staple of his makeshift offense.
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Hill has been used as the gadget/wildcat player of choice since early last season. In 2018, he touched the ball 40 times, turning that into 200 yards and two touchdowns. He was less effective throwing the ball, going 3-of-7 for 64 yards with a 44-yard completion offset by an interception.
In Week 1 against the Texans, he caught three of five targets for 25 yards, including a 9-yard TD reception.
If Hill were to get the fill-in QB call over Bridgewater, it would force the Saints to do non-traditional things with their playbook. But that's exactly what they shouldn't shy away from without Brees.
John Harbaugh's ability to tailor the Ravens' offense to Lamar Jackson's strengths in a pivot from a fading Joe Flacco in 2018 was the reason a lost season suddenly became an AFC North-winning one. With a good offensive line, a well-designed power rushing attack and a solid defense, Baltimore rode complementary football into the playoffs.
So in essence, the Saints need to deploy Hill much like the rookie version of Jackson — a whole lot of running from him and others. New Orleans is terrific up front and can run with varied speed, power and elusiveness with Kamara and Latavius Murray. Beyond Thomas and tight end Jared Cook, there's not much to trust in the receiving corps, especially with second-year players Tre'Quan Smith and Keith Kirkwoord hurting after Sunday.
The Ravens made it work with Kenneth Dixon and Gus Edwards flanking Jackson in the backfield. Kamara and Murray are way better versions of those options. Thomas and Cook are better short-to intermediate options than any combination the Ravens had in '18.
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Hill isn't incapable of throwing the ball. He's looked good when given opportunities to let the ball fly in the preseason. He's also arguably faster than Kamara. He can facilitate Kamara out of zone read and option looks.
Going run-heavy with calculated downfield passing comes with the added benefit of keeping the Saints' defense off the field. In two games, they haven't been as good against the run as expected and are getting ripped for big pass plays. The Ravens led the NFL in time of possession last season, and have raised that time in 2019 to better support a depleted, lesser defense.
Hill isn't the talent Jackson is as a passer, but he can be just as effective as a runner. Sitting back and throwing downfield to wideouts won't work well with Bridgewater. So the Saints might as well play to their strengths without Brees.
The Saints are fortunate to be 1-1 in the weak NFC South, where the 1-1 Falcons, 1-1 Buccaneers and 0-2 Panthers all have their share of issues. Even if they had Brees, the next two games — Week 3 outdoors at Seattle, Week 4 on Sunday night at home vs. red-hot Dallas — would have been difficult to win.
But then look at the four games after that: vs. Tampa Bay, at Jacksonville, at Chicago, vs. Arizona. None of those teams present offenses that can light up the scoreboard, and the latter three teams present plenty of defensive challenges for the passing game, between their top edge pass rushers and stingy cornerbacks.
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By assigning their fate to Bridgewater, the Saints won't be putting themselves in the best position to win games. Hill will help them do that even more so with the running game and defense, something their non-Brees personnel should dictate to them.
There's a real chance the Saints can finish either 4-2 or 3-3 in their Brees-less stretch coming out of the Buccaneers-Jaguars-Bears-Cardinals gauntlet no matter what happens in the Seahawks and Cowboys games. At either 5-3 or 4-4, the Saints will be in business for taking back the division when Brees gets back.
The break of the schedule gives the Saints a perfectly timed Week 9 bye for this situation, before they need to play the Falcons and Panthers twice each and five of their six NFC South games. Their two toughest second-half games, against the 49ers and Colts, are back-to-back in the Superdome in Weeks 14 and 15.
That's all nice to consider and gives New Orleans a lot of hope that there's nothing yet lost in what could be a Super Bowl season. But to bridge that gap without Brees, they need to run with Hill and pass on Bridgewater.
