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          NFL Nation

          Saints still No. 32 in total defense

          • Pat Yasinskas, ESPN Staff WriterOct 15, 2012, 12:12 PM ET
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            • Previously covered NFC South for ESPN.com
            • Covered Panthers for The Charlotte Observer from 1999-2008
            • Began journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990
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          The New Orleans Saints didn’t give up a yard or a point over the weekend, but they still have the league’s worst defense.

          The NFL has released its stats through Sunday’s games and the Saints, who had a bye, continue to rank No. 32 in total defense (No. 31 against the run and No. 26 against the pass).

          All four NFC South defenses rank in the bottom half of the league. The Atlanta Falcons are No. 21 overall (27th against the run and 11th against the pass). The Carolina Panthers are No. 23 (23rd against the run and 19th against the pass).

          The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are No. 25 overall. They rank fourth against the run, but that’s weighed down by a pass defense that ranks No. 31.

          The offensive rankings are somewhat better.

          The Saints are No. 4 in total offense (No. 1 in passing and No. 30 in rushing). The Falcons are No. 15 (25th in rushing and 10th in passing).

          The Panthers are No. 23 overall (No. 13 in rushing and No. 22 in passing). The Buccaneers are No. 27 in total offense (No. 18 in rushing and No. 25 in passing).