NEW ORLEANS — In so many ways, the 2023 Saints are just so frustrating.
They seem so close to being a pretty good team but getting over the hump has just been so difficult
The Saints are now 5-7 and five of those losses have come by one score. Eight points or less..
Sunday against the Lions is the latest frustrating example. We're going to talk mainly about the big picture.
Let's start our 4 Takeaways.
#4 The only stat that mattered
Do you know what didn't matter in this game?
The Saints were 4-4 scoring touchdowns in the red zone. That kept 'em close but it wasn't enough.
They outgained the Lions overall, which seemed impossible when it was 21-0.
The singular stat that mattered for the Saints was the minus two in the turnover margin.
Beating a really good Detroit team was going to be hard enough, but that "minus two" made it insurmountable.
The Saints needed someone on defense to make a play. It never happened and the Lions converted both Saints turnovers into short t-d drives. So it was 14 to nothing in points off turnovers.
The turnover margin has been a telling stat — all season. When turnovers are close, that's plus one/minus one or even. The Saints are 3-4 — roughly .500.
When they're winning the turnover margin plus two or better they're unbeaten; when they're losing it minus two or worse they're 0-3 including Sunday.
Simply put they could not overcome that turnover margin.
Let's get to the real question looming over this team right now.
It's about the coach and actually, It's two questions: should Dennis Allen be back next season? And will Dennis Allen be back next season?
These are very different questions.
#3 Never quit
At number three, here's the case for Dennis Allen.
Down 21-0 to a legitimate playoff team, the Saints were done. It was over.
I think everyone thought that except for the team. Their fight. When it should have been over, this shows again that Dennis Allen inspires that fight in his team means something.
#2 Not getting it done
But at number two, the problem is they're just not getting it done.
Allen was hired to continue Sean Payton's legacy with the Saints. But in 29 games in New Orleans, Dennis Allen's Saints are now 12-17.
If you include his time as Raiders' head coach, he's 20-45 as an NFL head coach.
Obviously, this does not inspire confidence, and he's losing the fanbase.
Derek Carr was booed every time he came on and off the field. I don't remember ever seeing more opposing fans in the stands.
#1 The big finish
Which brings us to number one: the big finish is here — five games to go.
Right now, the Saints have zero margin for error. Both the Falcons and the Buccaneers won this week.
Those final five include one each against Tampa Bay and Atlanta, and nobody on the remaining schedule has a winning record.
Allen got the quarterback he wanted, and the NFC South is a disaster
I think if the Saints don't get to the playoffs this season they should make a coaching change.
Will they? I do think it's possible but I think the next five weeks determine that and I think it could still go either way.
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