By Ross Jackson
There is no other way to look at it, this is the worst-performing New Orleans Saints defense we have seen under head coach Dennis Allen. The coach’s specialty has been an absolute let-down this season, and their 51-27 loss to the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers put it all into focus. It was easy to be fooled early in the season when the first-team offense was scoring on 15 consecutive possessions. But over the last few weeks, the defense has simply been exposed.
The story of this game should have been about rookie passer Spencer Rattler’s strong first half and the issues that presented themselves in the second. It was a game of ups and down for the young quarterback, but enough positives surfaced to feel hopeful about. Instead, the area of the team that is supposed to be its biggest strength, barely looked like it showed up for a game on Sunday.
Sure, one could point out the team’s top-ranked red zone defense going into Week 6. They could also turn a blind eye to the issues while looking at the positive takeaway numbers. But all of that would take away from where this team has been exhaustingly below its typical standard and performance.
Missed tackles, an inability to make plays at the quarterback and a sinking ship of a run defense have all been evident for years. No meaningful progress looks to have been made in any of those categories, and Sunday’s loss was an unforgettable eyesore.
Yes, the team is dealing with injuries all over its roster, but Allen’s defenses have overcome those on many occasions. In two-consecutive seasons, the team lost their top cornerback Marshon Lattimore but still finished with a pair of Top 10 scoring defenses and Top 10 passing defenses.
Against the Bucs, the Saints surrendered the most points of any NFL team so far this season and a 325 passing yard, four passing touchdown game to quarterback Baker Mayfield. They also gave up nearly 600 total yards (594) including 277 rushing yards, so neither phase of the game had much success despite a trio of interceptions.
The 594 total yards are the second-most the team’s defense has surrendered in its history, and 277 rushing yards are also among the most they’ve handed over.
Make no mistake about it. These were not big fluke plays that led to such a frustrating performance. The Bucs consistently beat the Saints at the line of scrimmage and in the yards after catch game. This was a dismal performance, one of the bleakest we’ve seen from a Saints defense in many years.
If this trend continues, the Saints five-game losing streak is only going to get longer. And with a game just four days away against former head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos, things won’t get easy or even a semblance of better any time soon. Especially while trying to keep a rookie quarterback upright behind a banged up offensive line.
The Plays
- Cornerback Paulson Adebo, safety Jonathan Abram and defensive lineman Cameron Jordan all came up with first-half interceptions.
- Rattler’s first touchdown was a 10-yard strike to fellow rookie wide receiver Bub Means.
- Running back Alvin Kamara ran for a 4-yard touchdown. His 60th career rushing score.
The Stats:
- 594 total yards and 51 points is the most surrendered by a Dennis Allen defense.
- The Saints are the 11th team in NFL history to lose a game in which they reel in three interceptions and have a punt return for a touchdown.
- Spencer Rattler was a solid 11-of-17 for 140 passing yards and a touchdown pass in the first half.
- In the second half, Rattler was 11-of-23 for 103 passing yards. He also had two interceptions.
The Injuries:
- Safety Tyrann Mathieu left the game and did not return with a forearm injury.
- Wide receiver Chris Olave is in concussion protocol, per Allen.
- Defensive backs Jonathan Abram and Alontae Taylor as well as defensive tackle Bryan Bresee all left with various injuries at one point, but returned.
