New Orleans Saints

Our team assessment

Article cutoff 2026-10-06

Saints | 1-3

New Orleans has repeatedly allowed opponents to move and finish with less resistance than its own offense receives. Opponents have made useful gains on 52.3 percent of plays, against the Saints' 43.3, and taken 128 offensive points from 26 threatening drives. The Saints have returned 105 from 22. Their offensive movement peaked in Week 3 but came with four giveaways. Monday brought fewer mistakes and still a 45-24 defeat, so possession alone does not explain the season's defensive problem.

Tyler Shough called the performance “embarrassing”. Allowing 205 rushing yards while producing 50, then watching Atlanta score on eight threatening possessions, gives the word numerical support. Kendre Miller's fumble created an early short field, and defensive holding extended the resulting touchdown drive. Those were two distinct forms of assistance. Only two of New Orleans's three team takeaways came from the defense; the other was on special teams. Eight giveaways, all outside special teams, have repeatedly added pressure to a defense already struggling without that help.

After opponent punts or failed fourth downs, Saints possessions have begun at their own 23.1, on average, across 15 competitive drives. The weekly average has varied widely, from their own 16.5 to their own 29.3. The latest game averaged their own 16.5. The resulting possession started at midfield or closer to the end zone in 0 of those 15 cases. These are actual starting spots, including punt returns, rather than a measure of the defense alone. The return unit has added 47 punt-return yards over the season. Pre-snap changes before the first run or pass affected 2 of these drives; those changes are excluded from the listed starting spots. Starts following turnovers are counted separately: 2 competitive possessions at their opponent 46.0 on average.

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