3 Stats That Prove the Saints Are Better Than the 49ers Despite Week 14 Loss

The New Orleans Saints were dealt a tough blow in Week 14, losing a hard-fought battle, 48-46, to the San Francisco 49ers. That gives San Francisco a significant leg up in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but there's actually reason to believe the Saints are the superior team this year.

With that in mind, here are three stats that prove the Saints are better than the 49ers.

1. Offensive Sack Percentage

Drew Brees tossed five touchdowns against the 49ers in Week 14. / Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

While a lot of credit should go to Drew Brees' lightning quick release, the Saints' offensive line has done an excellent job keeping Brees on his feet this season. The Saints have the league's third-lowest sack percentage (4.2 percent), while San Francisco has been in the middle of the pack with a rate of 6.4 percent. Considering Brees is 22-5 since 2017 when he's been sacked once or fewer, New Orleans could be tough to beat in the playoffs, while San Fransisco's injuries and inconsistency on the O-line could spell doom for the 49ers.

2. Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game

The Saints beat the Falcons, 26-18, in Week 13. / Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

While San Francisco is in the top two in pretty much every statistical category as a passing defense, the 49ers can be exploited on the ground. SF is surrendering 116.6 rushing yards per game, the 11th-highest mark in the league. The Saints, meanwhile, are only surrendering 94.2 rushing yards per game, good for the league's fifth-best mark. Taking away the run game could force teams to go to the air against New Orleans, and that's a problem considering the Saints have already recorded 90 QB hits (tied for No. 4 in the NFL).

3. Interception Percentage

Drew Brees chats with Jimmy Garoppolo after the Saints' Week 14 loss to the 49ers. / Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

It's really hard to intercept a passer as smart as Brees. The Saints' quarterback has an interception percent of just 1.4 percent, which ties him for the eighth-best rate in the league. Jimmy Garoppolo, on the other hand, can be a little reckless with the ball, throwing an INT on 2.8 percent of his attempts (No. 24 in the NFL). That's a worse rate than middling passers like Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco and Case Keenum. Garoppolo's turnover issues aren't just limited to interceptions either, as his nine fumbles are the eighth-most in the league. Jimmy G's inability to take care of the ball could rear its head at the worst moment, while Brees' more cautious play style could be a huge edge for New Orleans.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.