Another short yardage failure means another long week ahead for Sean Payton.

“Third and Dumb" his many play-calling critics will label the third and one carry by Pierre Thomas at the Denver 24 that lost a yard with 2:19 to play and the Saints trailing by two.

When Martin Gramatica followed by pushing a potential game-winning field goal wide right from 43 yards out, a gallant comeback had been wasted.

Gramatica -- who hadn't missed as a Saint -- has now missed his last two.  But it's unlikely that he'll dislodge the goat's horns from his head coach despite his failures.

A frustrated fan base wants to know:

Why is Pierre Thomas running the ball in another crucial third and one situation after failing in nearly identical situations the previous two weeks?

How can Drew Brees throw for an NFL third-week best 421 yards and not be asked to throw for just one more that could have won the game?

If Reggie Bush is your best running back and your best receiver this day, how can he not be asked to do either for just one more yard that could have won the game?

How much longer will the Deuce McAllister charade continue?  Can he play or can't he?  If he can, why isn't he asked to do the one thing the Saints most clearly lack and the one thing the he can most clearly provide -- if anything -- and that's short yardage power?

The Saints went into that game with two running backs in Aaron Stecker's absence and Deuce McAllister's inactivity.  The Broncos had three.  One averaged 5.9 yards per carry, one averaged 4.2, and their short yardage power back Michael Pittman scored a two-yard touchdown.

If Deuce can no longer fill that role, is there no one else out there somewhere who can?

Sometimes coaches equate flexibility with weakness and you would hope that Pierre Thomas running the football again in that same situation is not somewhat to prove a point --- the point being that those previous two calls were the right ones, despite the outcome.

Now, in the minds of the critics three points have been proven, all negatively.

Their point will be that a different call would have led to at least three points, three points that could have won that game.