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Saints' playoff hopes dwindling fast
Alex Marvez
FOXSports.com, NEW ORLEANS - The NFL's feel-good story nearly lasted a year.
But heavy booing showered upon the Saints by their home fans during Monday night's 31-14 loss to Tennessee was an apt reminder that 2006 is long gone. The Saints' playoff hopes will be as well without a quick turnaround."We were looking to repeat that year but it's a little different start being 0-3," said Saints running back Reggie Bush, whose team opened last season 3-0.
"This is tough for us. Everybody had us picked to win the Super Bowl, but look at us now."
Actually, don't.
The roster is largely the same, but the Saints bear little resemblance to the 2006 squad that reached the NFC Championship game. "Sputtering" is how Saints right tackle Jon Stinchcomb describes an offense that will now likely be without starting running back Deuce McAllister (knee) for the rest of the season. The defense, special teams and coaching aren't much better.
"We need something," said linebacker Scott Fujita, who even shaved his goatee on the advice of a fan believing it would bring the Saints better luck. "I'm at a loss."
Sunday's games:
Rams at Cowboys
Eagles at Giants Monday's schedule:
Losing in New Orleans was commonplace until last season when the Saints returned home for the first time since Hurricane Katrina devastated their city in 2005. That 23-3 rout of Atlanta was a magical moment in what became the franchise's most successful season.
The atmosphere was often just as charged 364 days later, especially when the Saints mounted their best offensive series of the season. Drew Brees completed all six of his passes to five different receivers and Bush scored on a one-yard run, giving New Orleans a 14-10 lead midway through the third quarter.
"That drive felt like the Saints' offense I know," Brees said.
But the other version quickly returned after the Titans marched downfield to retake the lead. The Saints' final four possessions ended with Brees turnovers, including an interception returned for a touchdown by Tennessee cornerback Vincent Fuller. Brees almost completed as many passes to Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck (three) as top wide receiver Marques Colston (four).
Brees isn't completely at fault for his unit's woes. The offensive line's protection struggles have derailed the deep passing game. The running game was ineffective, even before McAllister's injury. And head coach Sean Peyton — who could seemingly do no wrong with his play-calling in 2006 — doesn't have any answers.
Wanting to be "more aggressive" with his calls, Peyton went for it on fourth-and-one from the Saints 45-yard line late in the first quarter even though his defense had already played for almost 11 minutes. The decision backfired and helped set up a Titans field goal when Brees couldn't connect with Colston on a long throw. Appropriately, a completion wouldn't have mattered because left tackle Jammal Brown was flagged for holding.
"We're scratching our heads," Brees said. "It's just not happening for us right now."
New Orleans can't be totally discounted in a division without a clear frontrunner. But to become the first team in nine seasons to reach the playoffs after an 0-3 start, the Saints need major fixes before hosting NFC South rival Carolina on October 7.
"At first, I thought the bye week was too early in the season," Brees said. "Now, it gives us a chance to step back and evaluate where we are at."
Bush already has that answer.
"We can either go left or right," he said. "We have to make a choice."
FOXSports.com, NEW ORLEANS - The NFL's feel-good story nearly lasted a year.
But heavy booing showered upon the Saints by their home fans during Monday night's 31-14 loss to Tennessee was an apt reminder that 2006 is long gone. The Saints' playoff hopes will be as well without a quick turnaround."We were looking to repeat that year but it's a little different start being 0-3," said Saints running back Reggie Bush, whose team opened last season 3-0.
"This is tough for us. Everybody had us picked to win the Super Bowl, but look at us now."
Actually, don't.
The roster is largely the same, but the Saints bear little resemblance to the 2006 squad that reached the NFC Championship game. "Sputtering" is how Saints right tackle Jon Stinchcomb describes an offense that will now likely be without starting running back Deuce McAllister (knee) for the rest of the season. The defense, special teams and coaching aren't much better.
"We need something," said linebacker Scott Fujita, who even shaved his goatee on the advice of a fan believing it would bring the Saints better luck. "I'm at a loss."
Sunday's games:
Rams at Cowboys
Eagles at Giants Monday's schedule:
Losing in New Orleans was commonplace until last season when the Saints returned home for the first time since Hurricane Katrina devastated their city in 2005. That 23-3 rout of Atlanta was a magical moment in what became the franchise's most successful season.
The atmosphere was often just as charged 364 days later, especially when the Saints mounted their best offensive series of the season. Drew Brees completed all six of his passes to five different receivers and Bush scored on a one-yard run, giving New Orleans a 14-10 lead midway through the third quarter.
"That drive felt like the Saints' offense I know," Brees said.
But the other version quickly returned after the Titans marched downfield to retake the lead. The Saints' final four possessions ended with Brees turnovers, including an interception returned for a touchdown by Tennessee cornerback Vincent Fuller. Brees almost completed as many passes to Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck (three) as top wide receiver Marques Colston (four).
Brees isn't completely at fault for his unit's woes. The offensive line's protection struggles have derailed the deep passing game. The running game was ineffective, even before McAllister's injury. And head coach Sean Peyton — who could seemingly do no wrong with his play-calling in 2006 — doesn't have any answers.
Wanting to be "more aggressive" with his calls, Peyton went for it on fourth-and-one from the Saints 45-yard line late in the first quarter even though his defense had already played for almost 11 minutes. The decision backfired and helped set up a Titans field goal when Brees couldn't connect with Colston on a long throw. Appropriately, a completion wouldn't have mattered because left tackle Jammal Brown was flagged for holding.
"We're scratching our heads," Brees said. "It's just not happening for us right now."
New Orleans can't be totally discounted in a division without a clear frontrunner. But to become the first team in nine seasons to reach the playoffs after an 0-3 start, the Saints need major fixes before hosting NFC South rival Carolina on October 7.
"At first, I thought the bye week was too early in the season," Brees said. "Now, it gives us a chance to step back and evaluate where we are at."
Bush already has that answer.
"We can either go left or right," he said. "We have to make a choice."
