METAIRIE, La. -- Perhaps the most impressive thing about the New Orleans Saints' remarkable turnaround from 0-2 to 4-2 and sole possession of first place in the NFC South is that they've done it against the NFL's toughest schedule.
The Saints' strength of schedule through the first seven weeks was the hardest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats and Information, based on an opponents' winning percentage of .625.
Their losses came at Minnesota (5-2) and at home against New England (5-2). Their wins came at Carolina (4-3), vs. Miami (4-2) in London, at home against Detroit (3-3) and at Green Bay (4-3).
And now the schedule should become "easier" with six of New Orleans' final 10 games at home -- though anyone watching the NFL this season should know how unpredictable teams can be from week to week.
For example, three of the opponents on New Orleans' remaining schedule have started stronger than expected -- the 5-2 Los Angeles Rams, the 4-2 Buffalo Bills and the 3-4 New York Jets.
The Saints' remaining strength of schedule is right in the middle of the pack -- the 18th easiest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats and Info, with an opponents' winning percentage of .508.
But when you combine that schedule with how well the Saints have been playing on both offense and defense lately, you get a team that suddenly has a 79 percent chance of making the playoffs and a 64 percent chance of winning the NFC South, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
Not bad after losing those first two games by double digits in an ugly 0-2 start.