Saints must address, improve offense to avoid further downward turn

This should come as no surprise to anyone. Even against one of the weakest schedules in the NFL, the New Orleans Saints have little margin for error.

How do you explain the following numbers? The Saints have seven wins despite being 13^th in the NFL in points scored per game and being ninth in points allowed.

It doesn’t add up, does it, Dennis Allen?

“When you are in the top half of the league scoring points, and in the top ten allowing points, you would expect to win more games,” said Allen. “We have to ultimately finish games out and wins games.”

Time is running out.

Even if the Saints win their last two games, it may be too late.

One of the problems Allen identified comes early in games. The Saints were down 10-0 at Los Angeles, and with less than seven minutes gone, the Saints were down 21-0 at home to Detroit.

“We haven’t started games like we need to, and played too much catch up,” said Allen.

New Orleans has yet to score a touchdown on their opening possession this season. By a comparison, Dallas has done it six times and won every one of those games.

No matter what happens the final two games, the Saints need a giant re-think in the offseason.

Derek Carr has played average, even though lately he’s been better. When you commit $100 million guaranteed though, you are paying for a signal caller who elevates those around him. That hasn’t happened yet.

The Saints need to re-think their offensive line, a unit into which it has invested massive draft and financial capital. Yet it continues to be in the bottom half of the league.

More playmakers on both sides of the ball are also needed, especially on offense.

When the Lions came to the Dome, they brought an array of players who could stretch a defense. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs can get to the edge on any defense. The 12^th pick in the most recent draft has averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns.

In the second round, the Lions selected tight end Sam LaPorta with the 34^th pick in the draft. He has been spectacular, hauling down 74 receptions with nine for touchdowns.

The Lions are averaging 27.5 points per game, more than eight points a game better than they did in 2021.

The NFL game is changing. If you don’t have playmakers, you can’t be a big winner.

Ask Patrick Mahomes.

The best quarterback on the planet was responsible for two big turnovers Christmas Day. They resulted in Las Vegas touchdowns, seven seconds apart.

This season, the Chiefs have scored 40 points in a game once. Kansas City has lost six games with the best there is, under center. The last two seasons, the Chiefs lost a total eight regular season games.

Kansas City has a below average receiver unit and a less-than-stellar offensive line. Mistakes have led to less scoring by them and more by opponents. It’s just that simple.

Regardless of what happens in the Saints’ final two games, New Orleans has to draft and procure playmakers.

Next year, the schedule will not be as easy. New Orleans has a lot of work to do.