In a performance laced with mediocrity the Saints raised the ghosts of seasons past with a lethargic loss to the lowly Cleveland Browns 30 – 17. It wasn’t as close as the score would indicate, and it even occurred in the Superdome. Outperformed in all 3 phases (particularly special teams) the Saints seem well on their way to being the .500 team they are playing like. With a record at 4-3 and the hot Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town, the Saints face the distinct probability that they will be 4 – 4 at the halfway point of a season that could soon be a lost cause.
The Saints are playing like the 8 – 8 Saints of 2008. There are a couple of disturbing trends. The most disturbing one is that the opponents are finding and exploiting weaknesses – outcoaching the Saints. This week, the Browns pulled off some special team trickery that shouldn't work against a high school team. An across the field lateral on a punt return and a fake punt run of 68 yards, highlighted by Lance Moore's flailing attempt at tackling a sprinting punter, were both key plays.
Secondly, the offense effectively allowed more points than the defense, for the second time this season. This is role reversal of the highest order. Last season the Saints excelled at take aways they converted into points. This year the cleats are on the other foot and the Saints offense can't score fast enough to keep up with the points they give away.
Lastly, the Saints continue to ignore the ground game, failing to establish the run. Payton came out with Brees chucking the ball, although with defenses geared to stop the long passes, much of the Saints passing game is virtually laterals. Three screen passes after disastrous penalties put the Saints in first and 35 only underscored the problem – they can't get the ball downfield. Brees' 4 interceptions are symptomatic of the lack of rhythm. Brees threw the ball 56 times, usually a number that just won't work in the NFL.
The Saints loss total now equals the whole of last year. The plethora of injuries, the exploitation of weaknesses, and the failure to run the ball add up to a season that is on the brink. The Saints main competition to win the division, the Atlanta Falcon, are now a game ahead. The key matchups against the Steelers and Ravens outside the division now loom large.
I'm not ready to call it a Super Bowl hangover, but a little Hair of the Dog might be in order.
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