Saints trying to become rare team to get above .500 after 0-4 start

In 11 years, only one of the 38 NFL teams that have started 0-4 has rebounded to rise above .500. The Saints could be the second with a win next Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers.

By Guerry Smith

Nov 19, 2012 at 6:07 pm ET • 3 min read

Drew Brees, who was congratulated after Sunday's win over the Raiders by Oakland DE Dave Tollefson, has had a lot to smile about the past month. The Saints have rebounded from an 0-4 start to square their record at 5-5. (AP)

Since the NFL went to four divisions in each conference in 2002, 38 teams have started 0-4. Only one, Tennessee in 2006, rebounded to get above. 500 at any point in the season, and the Titans finished 8-8.

The New Orleans Saints will become the second if they beat the 49ers at home on Sunday. New Orleans (5-5) has won five of its last six and is trying to become the first team since San Diego in 1992 to reach the playoffs after losing its first four games.

“Maybe to the outside it is shocking (the Saints’ revival) because it was such a slow start,” center Brian de la Puente said. “We’re at .500 right now and there was never a doubt in anybody’s mind that we could get back to .500 and continue this winning because this organization, this coaching staff, this team, we have a winning tradition that they set here. The foundation is set.”

Statistically, the Saints are not that much different than when they were 0-4. They still rank last in the NFL in total defense, giving up almost 50 more yards per game than any other team. They still are near the top of the league in passing (second) and the bottom in rushing (26^th).

But the yardage totals don’t accurately reflect their improvement. This is nothing like the team that handed Kansas City its only victory and Carolina one of its two wins in September.

The Saints are playing the way they expected to play before the sour start -- with a ball-hawking defense and a balanced, powerhouse offense led by Drew Brees.

“Why are you astounded (at the recovery)?” DE Cam Jordan said. “We have the quarterback that we have. We have a lot of the key defensive players that we have. We were disappointed starting the way that we did. We expect a lot better of ourselves. Now we’re back to .500 and trying to get this thing back on the right track and keep it rolling.”

The Saints also started 0-4 in 2007. After winning four in a row to climb back to .500, they lost at home to winless St. Louis, falling behind 34-7 at one point.

Those Saints had another chance to get above .500 when they were 7-7, but they lost 38-23 at home to Philadelphia, eliminating them from the playoff picture.

Jordan, a second-year pro, dismissed the possibility of a repeat.

“There’s no, ‘We’ve made it (feeling),'” he said. “There’s no feeling of, ‘Hey, we’re here.' This is what we’re used to doing.’ I think the team has a good head on them.”

They will find out exactly how far they've come in the next three weeks with games against current NFC West leader San Francisco, NFC South leader Atlanta and NFC East leader the New York Giants.

A game behind Seattle, Dallas and Tampa Bay for the final NFC playoff spot, the Saints have to keep winning.

If you look at the big picture, it’s overwhelming,” de la Puente said. “Right now, we have the 49ers. It’s going to be very difficult. They’re a great defense. The climb, we’re just enjoying it. Like (interim coach) Joe Vitt says, the reward is in the journey. We just have to focus on this week and that’s all we can control.”

The Saints have put themselves in position to play meaningful games for the rest of November, possibly December and maybe even January.

“The players stuck together and weathered a huge storm,” said Vitt, who is 3-1 since his six-game, bounty-related suspension at the beginning of the year. “They didn’t point fingers. All they did was have the resolve to get better collectively on a daily basis.”

Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.