Saints right tackle Zach Strief said the improved defense has given Payton more flexibility in his offensive play-calling. Sometimes it might mean trying to convert a fourth-and-short on the Saints' side of the field, confident that the defense will mitigate the damage should the play fail. Other times, it means calling clock-eating plays to protect a lead.
"It certainly lets you take some more chances,Ed Reed Jersey," Strief said. "At the same time, late in some of these games, it gives you a chance to be a little more conservative and protect the ball a little bit better because you don't feel like you're up 17 points and you've got to get another" score.