Whomever Saints play at QB, he’ll be ready

The Saints didn’t flinch last season after losing quarterback Drew Brees to an injury in Week 2. Behind steady Teddy Bridgewater, they went 5- 0 without Brees.

That performance helped earn Bridgewater a full- time job and a three- year, $ 63 million contract ($ 40 million guaranteed) with the Panthers.

Now the Saints are in the same situation after Brees suffered fractured ribs against the 49ers last week, with a more intriguing quarterback scenario — the notso- steady Jameis Winston or the unproven Taysom Hill.

On paper, Winston is a pretty good Plan B. He’s a former No. 1 overall pick who led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards with the Buccaneers last season. But he also led the league with 30 interceptions. If Bruce Arians couldn’t tame Winston’s massive talents, who can?

Saints coach Sean Payton is certainly in Arians’ class as a quarterback mentor, but it could be a challenge even for him.

Coming in cold against the 49ers last week, Winston provided a good dose of the Jameis Winston experience. He completed his first five passes for 60 yards. But after driving the Saints to the 49ers’ 4- yard line, he looked like an undrafted rookie. He was sacked on backto- back plays and threw two incompletions as the Saints gained seven yards on six plays and settled for a field goal.

Payton has been coy about his starting quarterback Sunday against the Falcons, though Winston is the likely choice. Either way, Payton usually puts his quarterback in a position to succeed.

Pick: Saints 31, Falcons 21.