The New Orleans Saints have momentum finally, and they are now at 4-7 with six games remaining in the season, so things are not perfect but certainly better than two weeks ago. While the team was not perfect for much of the game, those last few drives certainly made them look as such, and that type of play is hopefully something we get to see more of in their remaining games this year.

With that said, here are our six takeaways from the Saints 35-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns

1. Special teams has a big performance for the second week in a row

Since special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi became interim head coach Darren Rizzi,  opposing kickers have struggled mightily. The typically reliable Younghoe Koo missed three field goals last week, including one block. Dustin Hopkins missed multiple field goals and an extra-point attempt. Matter of fact, he missed two field goals on one drive after the first was called off. Dante Pettis also returned a punt into Browns territory. The return led to the touchdown that put the game out of reach.

2. 2nd half offense is still a slight problem

New Orleans ended with 35 points on the board, but it didn’t look pretty until late in the fourth quarter. There was a period where the offense stagnated. This has been a consistent problem for the Saints this year. They’ve started strong, but have slowed down significantly after the first quarter. It looked like that would be a recurring theme until a late fourth quarter surge. This is a part of the offense they'll have to improve on.

3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is making a case for a roster spot next year

The Saints have wanted Marquez Valdes-Scantling for years. They finally got him, and the receiver isn't disappointing. Matter of fact, he may be on the roster next year. Receiver depth was an issue coming into the season and injuries to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed placed a spotlight on them. It would be wise to keep a bigger, veteran receiver in the room.

4. The bye week is here...unfortunately

The Saints have built momentum on two straight wins and given themselves a 4-7 record in a division that is struggling to gain any traction once again. They now have to go into the bye week however, which is both good and bad, as it'll help them clear up most of the lingering injuries they have, but it also may stunt this momentum to begin their Week 13 game. We will see how they perform coming out of the bye.

5. The pass rush still is not perfect, but it is getting there

The pass rush for the Saints has been one of, if not their biggest weaknesses this season, and unfortunately, that was not exactly fixed in Week 11. However, things did get a little better, with the Saints picking up 3 sacks and 5 tackles for loss against Jameis Winston who can definitely be hard to bring down at times. This is a good sign and hopefully something we see more of in the last stretch of the 2024 season.

6. The tight end room may be the Saints' boon to success

Between Taysom Hill's massive game and quality performances from Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau, the tight end room for the Saints was having a field day. They had 48.9% of the Saints' receiving yards on the day and four touchdowns between Hill's three on the ground and Johnson's one through the air. This was a great day for the tight ends, and one that we have been hoping to see for a decent amount of time.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Takeaways from Saints' Week 11 win over the Cleveland Browns