Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to rock bottom.
Last week's 33-10 loss to the Denver Broncos was as bad as it gets.
On Thursday night, in front of a national TV audience, the Saints were flat-out terrible, and it felt like a continuation of the Buccaneers game – except worse.
For the second week in a row, the effort of his team came into question.
Although Dennis Allen emphatically denies that's a problem.
Certainly, injuries played a role. Let's get back to that in a minute.
4) Weak Up Front
One of the biggest problems in the losing streak is that the Saints are weak up front.
They have absolutely been blown off the ball.
And injuries haven't really killed the Saints defense.
They're giving up the most yards per carry in the NFL.
The Broncos ran continually right at the Saints for 225 yards.
The Bucs had rushed for 277.
Throw everything else out you will never win giving up that many rushing yards.
In fact, you'll get blown out.
This is a problem Dennis Allen said he did not anticipate having, but he's got it.
And this is what he has to fix first if the Saints are going to have any chance of turning things around.
3) Thank you, Sean Payton
All right, I'm gonna call a timeout at No. 3 just to say "thank you" to Sean Payton.
On behalf of my generation of New Orleanians – that's me, I think in second grade in New Orleans East.
My dad Jerry Mouton was an original Saints season ticket holder. In 1973, I couldn't wait for the season opener.
Filled with hope, I showed up to see his Saints take on the Atlanta Falcons.
The Moutons rarely left a Saints game early, but on this day we left Tulane Stadium with the Saints trailing 48-7.
Walking to the car, I heard on somebody's car radio that the Falcons scored again and after we got in the station wagon they added another one.
The Saints lost the 1973 season opener, 62-7.
Try having hope after that.
In the first 39 seasons of Saints football, they won exactly one playoff game.
Then Sean Payton arrived in the aftermath of Katrina – four years later the Saints won a Super Bowl.
Something I never thought I'd see that, and no matter where you were when it happened. New Orleanians of my generation broke down and cried.
I know I did, and my dad saw it, too.
So, thank you, Sean Payton.
We'll never forget it.
2) Missing in Action
Sure the injuries are real. On offense, preseason, these were the Saints' seven best offensive players: Derek Carr (QB), Alvin Kamara (RB), Taysom Hill (QB/RB/TE), Chris Olave (WR), Rashid Shaheed (WR/PR/KR), Erik McCoy (C) and Cesar Ruiz (G).
Of these seven, six did not play Thursday against the Broncos. Only Kamara saw action and he only managed 10 yards on seven carries (1.4 avg), and 14 yards on six receptions (2.3 avg). That said, he is dealing with an injury of his own.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler wasn't good. His two turnovers were terrible, but you really can't blame him.
He did not have an NFL-quality offensive line or NFL-quality wide receivers.
The injuries have hit where the Saints had no depth, and that's bad luck.
But also, the lack of depth is their own fault.
In the past five NFL drafts, the Saints have traded away nine more picks than they've acquired.
For instance, they traded three picks to get one when they moved up to draft Kool-Aid McKinstry.
They traded four picks for one to take Adam Trautman.
Those nine draft picks could have been used for some offensive depth.
And the Saints do have depth on defense. Payton Turner is the Saints fourth defensive end and he's a first-round draft pick.
But not on offense. The third most targeted wide receiver is an undrafted rookie, and this season the Saints chose not to add much in free agency.
Long-term, maybe that was the right move. But short-term, the gap between starter and backup on offense was enormous – and it shows.
1) Season on the Brink
The season remains on the brink as the Saints head to Los Angeles to play the Chargers, who run the ball more than 30 times a game.
Getting healthier seems like the only hope.
With 11 games to go, it's not over yet but the brass band is tuning up right now for the jazz funeral that seems inevitable.
WWL Louisiana's '4 Takeaways' sponsored by Rouse's Markets, the official supermarket of the New Orleans Saints.
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