As the NFL playoffs narrow to the final four, the road to the Super Bowl is offering more than just high-stakes drama - it’s delivering a blueprint. For a team like the New Orleans Saints, who are looking to build on a promising finish to their 2025 season, each of the remaining contenders provides a different lesson in how to win in today’s NFL.
Let’s break it down.
New England Patriots: Discipline Still Wins
The Patriots' resurgence under new head coach Mike Vrabel has been one of the season’s most compelling storylines. A team that finished at the bottom of the AFC East just a year ago is now playing for a conference title. That’s not just about talent - it’s about culture.
Vrabel has brought back the attention to detail that defined New England’s dynasty years. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective.
The Patriots don’t beat themselves, and they don’t get caught off guard. That level of discipline and preparation is something the Saints - or any team - should be striving for.
And then there’s Drake Maye. The rookie quarterback has blossomed into a legitimate MVP candidate, but even more impressive is how seamlessly he’s fit into the structure around him.
The Patriots aren’t asking him to do everything - they’re asking him to do his job, and he’s doing it at an elite level. For the Saints and second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, that’s a model worth studying.
Denver Broncos: Scheme Still Matters
On the other side of the AFC, Sean Payton is showing that great coaching and smart design can still tilt the field. Denver’s offense isn’t the most explosive in the league, but it’s one of the smartest. Payton’s fingerprints are all over a Broncos team that’s maximizing its young quarterback and leaning into mismatches.
That should sound familiar to Saints fans. Payton built his legacy in New Orleans with creative play-calling and a knack for out-scheming opponents.
Now, with Kellen Moore at the helm, the Saints are trying to recapture that edge. The Broncos are proof that it can still work - especially when the scheme is tailored to the talent.
Just like Denver, New Orleans is hoping to develop a young quarterback into a playoff-caliber leader. But more than that, they’ll need Moore to find the same kind of rhythm Payton has rediscovered in Denver.
Los Angeles Rams: The Quarterback Difference
Then there are the Rams, who are showing what it looks like when you have a true difference-maker under center. In tight games, Matthew Stafford has been the steady hand that tips the balance. He’s not just managing games - he’s winning them.
That’s the kind of presence the Saints hope Tyler Shough can grow into. He showed flashes of clutch ability in his rookie year, but Stafford is operating at a different level right now. He’s the kind of quarterback who can walk into a one-score game and make you feel like the outcome is already decided.
The lesson here is simple: in the playoffs, the margin is razor-thin. Having the better quarterback in those moments still matters - maybe more than anything else.
Seattle Seahawks: Balance is Still a Weapon
Finally, there’s Seattle. In a postseason full of quarterback fireworks, the Seahawks reminded everyone that a complete team can still dominate.
Against a loaded 49ers squad, Seattle didn’t need Sam Darnold to light it up. He threw for just 124 yards - and they still won by 35 points.
That’s what happens when all three phases of your team are clicking. Defense, special teams, offensive line play - it all matters. And when it’s all working, you don’t need a superhero at quarterback to win big.
For the Saints, that’s a reminder that building around the quarterback is just as important as building up the quarterback. Shough’s development will be key, but so will continuing to strengthen the roster around him.
Bottom Line: The Blueprint is There
Whether it’s New England’s discipline, Denver’s schematic edge, LA’s quarterback advantage, or Seattle’s complete-team dominance, each of the final four teams is showing a different way to win. And for a Saints team that’s on the rise, these playoff contenders offer more than entertainment - they offer a roadmap.
Now it’s up to New Orleans to follow it.