NEW ORLEANS (AP)— As challenging as Dennis Allen’s first year as Saints coach has been, New Orleans might jump back into the NFC South battle by winning its next game.
Don’t expect Allen to highlight that fact this week.
While technically correct, it does not necessarily reflect the Saints’ (4-8) performance on the field.
“I don’t think we can pay too much attention to the standings,” Allen said Monday after studying video of another loss this season in which his team struggled with poor execution at vital moments.
Two turnovrs, untimely penalties, and a missed field goal in a 13-0 loss to San Francisco on Sunday were the latest evidence of the Saints’ error-prone play, which has plagued them much of the season.
“It’s frustrating because (those mistakes) keep you from winning games and we as a coaching staff and us as players, we’ve got to at some point take the accountability and get it fixed if we want to start winning games,” Allen told ESPN. “I think we have a team that’s got the capability of winning some of these games as we go down this stretch.”
Alvin Kamara fumbled near midfield on the Saints’ first drive, resulting in a 49ers field goal. He fumbled again in the second half, on the Niners’ goal line. One Saints defensive penalty negated what could have been a game-changing interception. A pre-snap penalty on a fourth-and-5 play in Niners territory forced the Saints to withdraw their offence off the field in favour of a 48-yard field goal attempt, which Wil Lutz missed wide left.
When asked if accountability for such errors falls more on players than coaches, Allen replied, “You have to look at it as a combination of both.”
“We’ve got to do a better job as players in that area and we’ve got to do a better job of demanding it as coaches,” he added. “That’s where we’re at as a team and it’s not good enough.”
WHAT WORKS
The Saints’ defense benefited from the return of several important players and put forth one of its greatest performances of the season by restricting the Niners to one touchdown and fewer than 100 yards rushing. The Saints’ defensive front also stopped San Francisco on fourth-and-goal in the first half.
“We did a nice job defensively against a really good offensive team,” Allen told the crowd.
What Needs Help
New Orleans continues to struggle with ball security and taking the ball away. A penalty called on defensive back Chris Harris wiped away rookie Alontae Taylor’s interception return at the San Francisco 8. This added to the Saints’ two lost fumbles. The Saints’ NFL-worst turnover differential fell to minus 14. No other team fared worse than minus-8 after Sunday’s games.
Stock up.
Rashid Shaheed, an undrafted rookie, continues to show promise when given opportunities on offence. While he was only targeted three times, he caught two receptions for 53 yards, including a 35-yard catch against the league’s best defence. He also gained 6 yards on his only run.
STOCK DOWN.
While Kamara has been probably the Saints’ finest offensive player for the last half-decade, he may have his poorest statistical season this year.
He’s lost four fumbles and scored three touchdowns. San Francisco confined him to 50 total yards from scrimmage, which is low for a player who often exceeds 100 scrimmage yards in a game.
INJURY REPORT
P.J. Williams left Sunday’s game due to a knee injury. New Orleans is still waiting for top cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who returned to practice on a limited basis last week but missed his eighth consecutive game due to an abdominal injury.
If Lattimore proves “able to get out there and practice and practice at a level that gives us a feeling that he can perform his job, then he’ll be up,” Allen told me.
KEY NUMBER
The Saints ran 16 plays between the San Francisco 30- and 1-yard lines, including a missed field goal, before being shut out for the first time in 332 games, a streak that dates back to the end of the 2001 season.
UP NEXT
The Saints go to Tampa Bay for a Monday night game that might be crucial in the race for the NFC South. With four games remaining, a win would move the Saints within a half-game of the first-place Buccaneers (5-6).
“I do think we’ve got guys that are willing to fight in that locker room and I think our guys go out there and play hard,” Allen told the media. “We just need to execute better.
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