The New Orleans Saints have started this season worse than they began the 2023 season, as they sit now at 2-3, one game behind their 3-2 record last season. Based on the team’s history, this 2-3 start could be an extremely bad omen, as they have been exceptionally bad when beginning that way in previous seasons. Dennis Allen has his work cut out for him in rewriting that narrative.
In the 14 times they have started 2-3, they have made the playoffs twice (1990 and 2000), both times they were in the Wild Card Round, and only once did they make it past that first round, which was the 2000 season. Including all 14 seasons before now, they finished with an average win count of 6.64, meaning the Saints would be on pace for only 4-5 more wins this season (with the addition of the extra week of football now).
In all of these occurrences, however, the Saints finished with a negative point differential all but once (+8 in 2008). Currently, they sit at +44, which is heavily weighted by their first two games, but they have also lost all of their matchups so far in a close manner score wise. In 2008, they went 8-8 and missed the playoffs, so regardless, things look bleak with their current record.
If the Saints start 2-4 or even 2-5, there will still be a playoff team with that start in their history, as the 1990 team got to 2-5 before winning six of their next nine games. For teams that made it to 3-3, the 2000 team previously mentioned made the playoffs, and the 1987 team comes into play as well, who ended up winning all their remaining games on route to a 12-3 record and playoff berth (they lost in the Wild Card Round).
So a win in Week 6 could be a saving grace for the Saints, especially against their divisional opponent in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but a loss could certainly put them in a bad spot both divisionally and for their playoff chances.
