By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — It was a rough weekend for the New Orleans Saints who gave up 51 points in their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, on a four-game losing streak, all eyes are on the team’s ability to navigate this adversity and turn things around before it’s too late. New Orleans will have just three days to get ready for their Week 7 matchup with former head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos.
Here are some of the important number the Saints will look to improve upon or carry over into that Thursday night matchup.
0 – Typically a marquee matchup, Saints cornerback Marshon Latimore and Tampa wide receiver Mike Evans lined up across from one another 21 times to the tune of zero targets from quarterback Baker Mayfield.
8.75 – Third down efficiency was well below the Saints’ typical standard, converting just 38% of their third down chances. Part of the reason why is that the team was often behind schedule. Their average third down distance to go was 8.75 yards. That includes eight third downs of seven or more yards to go.
9 – The Saints’ defense was credited with only nine total pressures against the Tampa offensive line. Their 22.5% pressure rate was the second-lowest of any NFL team in Week 6.
15 – Missed tackles have been a big issue for New Orleans over the last three weeks in particular. This week, they missed a season-high 15 tackles against the Buccaneers.
15.1 – New Orleans averaged just 15.1 yards per drive against Tampa. Meanwhile the Saints’ defense surrendered 38.8 yards per drive.
38.1 – Per Next Gen Stats, New Orleans ran the ball between the tackles 38.1% of their rushes. Sometimes the actual point of attack is different than that which is intended. But having to resort to up-the-middle rushes with a banded up offensive line and against the No. 3 stacked box rate did not yield much success for the Saints.
43 – Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has been noted for injecting offensive elements like motion and play action. However, the Saints ran just 43% of their snaps on Sunday with motion. The lowest rate of the season so far for the team.
111 – Rattler threw for 111 passing yards outside of the pocket on Sunday. That’s the most of any Saints quarterback since Next Gen Stats began tracking outside-the-pocket passing yards in 2016.
277 – Tampa’s offense ran for 277 rushing yards, the most allowed in Saints head coach Dennis Allen’s coaching era, No. 4 total allowed in franchise history and the most surrendered in a single game so far this season.
395.8 – The Saints’ defense is No. 32 in the NFL in total yards allowed with 395.8. A worse standing than teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars.
