It's often hard to keep NFL preseason performances in perspective.
Through three exhibitions, the New Orleans Saints rank second in total defense and scoring defense. Obviously, anyone looking for reasons to be optimistic about the Saints' defense improving this year can point to the shut out on Saturday against the Houston Texans and the exhibition against the Los Angeles Chargers the previous week in which the only points allowed were scored by the Chargers defense.
But, there is a flip side. Anyone using the preseason results to say the Saints defense is much improved would also think the offense looks like garbage.