The New Orleans Saints (3-3) instilled some new hope in the fan base in last week’s dominant, 34-0 shutout of the New England Patriots.
The team performed well on all cylinders, seeming to show improvement in just about every area to be desired after inconsistency and failing to play complementary football plagued the Saints for the better part of the season.
The only question was as to whether or not that was a fluke and if the Saints could build upon that heading throughout the rest of the schedule that continued with the Houston Texans.
And for now, “no” seems to be the resounding response as the Saints failed to capitalize on almost too many opportunities to count with an abysmal performance in the red zone on a day in which the defense did not look like itself, making critical errors.
Here’s a look at what fans and analysts had to say following the loss:
The Saints will never win anything of significance with Dennis Allen as the head coach and Pete Carmichael running the offense.
Blame whichever players you want today, next week and the weeks to come. But that's the truth.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) October 15, 2023
Derek Carr looked good today. Chris Olave looked better. Alvin Kamara looked good.
A battered OL gave up pressure but still wasn't what they were the first 3 weeks. They were "better".
At what point do #Saints admit Pete Carmichael is the problem?
— RevDeuce (@RevDeuceWindham) October 15, 2023
Man!!! Get Pete Carmichael out of here. #Saints
— TJAY Jones (@tjayjones8) October 15, 2023
This Saints play calling is as stale as the bread I threw out this morning
— juan kincaid (@juangkincaid) October 15, 2023
This is an embarrassing performance from the Saints defense so far. No other way to put it.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) October 15, 2023
FINAL: 20-13, Texans.
The biggest thing we were looking to find out this week is, can the Saints find consistency on offense and have back to back games having success in the red zone. They failed to do so.
— Brooke Kirchhofer (@brookechesney) October 15, 2023
Saints have no business being 3-3. Think what you want about the talent but they have more than enough talent to be better than a .500 team. Cam Jordan and Derek Carr weren’t happy in the their interviews today. First time I think I’ve heard Cam say Sh*t In a presser
— Sharief Ishaq (@ShariefWDSU) October 15, 2023
Derek Carr played liked someone who did not want to get hit on those last four plays.
— Guerry Smith (@Guersmith) October 15, 2023
Stop making us sit through this garbage week after week @Saints
— Barstool NOLA (@BarstoolNOLA) October 15, 2023
This is not an indictment on Derek Carr but rather the Saints for not providing Carr with a 20 point head start before the game started and not trading for Mike McDaniel to be the play caller or trading for CMC, Jefferson, Kelce, Kupp or provide Carr with the 2001 Ravens defense. https://t.co/WJeVz0mPFS
— Solo Lopez (@TheSoloLopez) October 15, 2023
This is the last time I wanna talk about this team today because of the performance, but if ima be real again we need to restart, draft a QB, find our guy, clean out the coaching staff, it’s just time for change #Saints
— Keys ⚜️ (@selfmade_keys) October 15, 2023
Derek Carr on pace for 50 pass attempts with Taysom Hill being the leading receiver just doesn't seem like a winning formula.
— Allen K. (@AllenK_81) October 15, 2023
Derek Carr had over 350 yards of passing and the Saints scored 13 points
— dylan sanders (@DillySanders) October 15, 2023
Ah man just saw Derek Carr threw short of the sicks on fourth down. Just a meme at this point.
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) October 15, 2023
When Derek Carr sees zero blitz, he's chucking and praying
Demeco sent the house on two of the final three snaps, then sent an extra man on the last
Texans win
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) October 15, 2023
Fire Dennis Allen and Pete Carmichael. Saints fans have seen enough pic.twitter.com/6sa1IefgKn
— Jono Barnes (@JonoBarnes) October 15, 2023
Dennis Allen is now 18-41 as a head coach.
18-41. That's not a typo.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) October 15, 2023
I just don’t understand why Dennis Allen is letting Pete Carmichael get him fired https://t.co/MOHk9Venw6
— dylan sanders (@DillySanders) October 15, 2023
Derek Carr is the quarterback Dennis Allen wanted. Pete Carmichael and Doug Marrone were the coaches he was most comfortable pinning his career on. He was given the NFL's easiest schedule and he's lucky to be 3-3. This is who he is and this is what his team is.
— John Sigler (@john_siglerr) October 15, 2023
Easiest schedule in the league, healthy weapons, new qb, same defense, what more can Dennis Allen get and keep losing. Everything he said was a problem last year they “addressed” and he still loses. What more does Mickey have to see to make the call ???
— Calvin Rhines (@CalveyKid57) October 15, 2023
Dennis Allen begging for a 10 second run off so he can settle for this field goal attempt.
— David Fisher (@Fish_TBW) October 15, 2023
Again, Dennis Allen is the NFL version of when a college team promotes an unqualified assistant off a successful staff b/c of "continuity" then they flop. The Saints could squeak in the playoffs because of the schedule/NFC South weakness but no chance it works long term.
— Patrick McGee (@wpmcgee) October 15, 2023
