By Ross Jackson
After another embarrassing loss on Thursday night, the New Orleans Saints will finally get some time to get healthy after a brutal three-game stretch that spanned just 10 days. The team’s 33-10 loss is the latest in their five-game losing streak that has led to many calling for the jobs of team leadership while the Saints look to hold their ground and work desperately over the next week-and-a-half to right the ship.
The loss to the Denver Broncos is going to sting and linger over that time. Here are the numbers that help tell the story of a quickly depreciating team, its decimated roster and the desperation at hand to get things fixed.
4 – The last four times the Saints have experienced a losing streak of at least five games, there has been a coaching change in the offseason.
- 2021: Sean Payton to Dennis Allen
- 2005: Jim Haslett to Sean Payton
- 1999: Mike Ditka to Jim Haslett
- 1996: In-season: Jim Mora to Rick Venturi, Offseason: Rick Venturi to Mike Ditka
6 – Running back Kendre Miller made his 2024 debut for the Saints after managing a hamstring injury to start the season and through all of training camp. In his return to the field, he averaged 6 rushing yards per carry. That’s the highest mark of the season for a Saints running back. The previous best was Alvin Kamara’s 5.8 yards per carry in Week 2.
7 – New Orleans improved its missed tackle number this week, at least. After missing 10, 13, and 15 tackles in the last three games respectively, the Saints missed just seven against the Broncos. On average, Broncos opponents had missed 10.3 per game going into Week 7.
9 – With all of the injuries on the team, the Saints had to rely on nine different rookies to play large roles as the game went on. Some have been starting since Week 1. Others were called into action due to injuries during the game.
- QB Spencer Rattler
- LT Taliese Duaga
- OL Kyle Hergel
- WR Bub Means
- WR Mason Tipton
- WR Jermaine Jackson (Return Specialist)
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
- CB Rico Payton
- P Matthew Hayball
14 – Per Next Gen Stats, Denver generated 14 “quick pressures” on rookie Spencer Rattler. Quick pressures are defined as pass rushing pressure that is applied in less than 2.5 seconds.
25 – Stathead and Pro Football Reference show that the Saints are currently one game away from tying their longest streak of consecutive games (5) with 25 or more points allowed. Not all points have been allowed by the defense.
29.4 – New Orleans only converted 29.4% of their third downs on Thursday night, their lowest of the season
132 – Despite the Saints’ improvements in missed tackle numbers, the Broncos still set a season-high in yards after contact with 132, per Next Gen Stats.
502 – The Saints defense surrendered 502 rushing yards in a matter of five days. 277 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6, followed by 225 against the Broncos on Week 7’s Thursday Night Football matchup.
2012 – This is the first time a New Orleans defense has given up more than 220 rushing yards to multiple teams in the same season since 2012.
