JACKSON: Saints’ optimistic approach has run its course

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints’ 2-9 record in 2025 has felt like an exhausting exercise in repetition. Each week, the loss comes down to many of the same shortfalls and is met with similar reactions and responses from head coach Kellen Moore. The echoes of a need to be better, frustrations with missed opportunities and a dedication to a process that has only produced disappointing results are losing their luster. 

While the entirety of the team’s struggles can’t be pinpointed at its head coach, his offense was the fatal flaw in Week 12’s 24-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

A passionate fanbase coupled with a strong start by the defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s unit set the Saints up with a chance to get a much-needed win against a bitter rival. Instead, stalled red-zone trips, missed field goals, and the Saints’ knack for self-inflicted wounds let them beat themselves long before the Falcons needed to.

While rookie quarterback Tyler Shough performed well, a lack of a rushing attack and diminished offensive weapons couldn’t put points on the board. One drive, coming out of the second half, consisted of 15 plays and 62 yards, but resulted in no points after turning the ball over on downs one yard away from the end zone. The next offensive possession also included 15 plays, but the team advanced the ball only 50 yards in a drive that netted only three points.

New Orleans also bungled an opportunity set up by a 75-yard Mason Tipton kickoff return that set the offense up on the Atlanta 16-yard-line. The four-play drive resulted in a loss of five yards and a missed field goal.

In order to build any semblance of momentum before the season is out, New Orleans won’t be able to do so on vibes and optimism alone. The team will need to be better prepared, better coached and better deployed in order to take advantage of the talent that’s left on the roster.

To no fault of the coaches, the organization’s curious decision-making around asset management, team-building and roster construction haven’t exactly inspired much confidence when considering the results.

Perhaps it’s all just a slog to the offseason at this point, but the players that are asked to put their bodies on the line each week don’t look at it that way.

“We’re not not moving on to next season yet,” veteran safety Justin Reid said after the game. “We’re still playing this season. We’re going to continue to go out there and play our tails off for the city and do what we can do.”

It may not sound inspiring, but it’s the real situation New Orleans is in. If the organization wants to honor the patience and buy-in of its veteran leaders, it must shift from messaging to meaningful action and results.

With six games left for the year, it may be a moot point. But the Saints’ front office and coaching staff has a lot to prove to its personnel before the season comes to a close. This late in the season, the performative optimism isn’t playing as effectively as it once did. Changes, results and accountability are all that will lay the foundation for hopefulness moving forward.