The Atlanta Falcons will be starting a new quarterback this week, but Dennis Allen says the New Orleans Saints are sticking with Andy Dalton after their bye week. Allen wouldn’t rule out a return for Jameis Winston later on, but they’re rapidly running out of time to make a switch with just four games left in the regular season.
Dalton’s offense has struggled in recent weeks, scoring 27 of their last 66 points in a single game while averaging just 13.2 points per game since Halloween. They’ve converted just 19 of their 59 last third-down opportunities (32.2%). It may not be entirely on Dalton with Pete Carmichael Jr. making some baffling play-calling decisions over the last month, but for the Saints to not make a single change with their offense performing so poorly is about as unserious a move as you could draw up.
Come on. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Allen went into the bye week saying that fans should not expect any major changes to the offense, and he’s come out of it doubling down on that stance. It recalls his infamous halftime advice to Dalton after the veteran quarterback threw three interceptions within minutes of each other against the Arizona Cardinals earlier this season.
A change — any change! — would be warranted at this point in the season. The Saints are fielding an inept offense that is losing games and no one would fault them for trying a different quarterback or play-caller (or both) to try and reverse course. But Allen wants to go out on his own terms, and there’s something to say for that. There’s also something to say for ostriches sticking their heads in the sand when threatened. Nothing you could say about either of those instances is polite.
