Slow starts big part of Saints losing record

It is not how you start but how you finish.

The 2023 New Orleans Saints started 2-0 and should have been 3-0 but blew a game in Green Bay with a rookie kicker and a quarterback injury playing large roles in the defeat.

Though the Saints started 2-0, their starts to games have been a clear disappointment.

The story of the 2023 New Orleans Saints is a disappointing one.

Sure, there are two games remaining and there is still the remote hope of winning the poor NFC South and making the playoffs.

That opportunity is a slim one, based upon the way the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing and the fact that they are hosting the Saints as a favorite Sunday before playing the lowly Carolina Panthers to end the season, needing just a win in either game to eliminate the Saints. The Bucs whipped the Saints 26-9 in New Orleans on October 1.

New Orleans would have to defeat the Bucs and Falcons to give itself a chance. The Falcons beat the Saints 24-15 in Atlanta On November 26.

The inconsistency of the Saints is obvious and troubling and a primary reason for the losing record with two games left.

The inability to stop the run is a huge issue.

For much of the season, the lack of a pass rush has been a problem.

Other than Taysom Hill in certain games, the inability to run the football effectively has hurt.

The failure of a rookie kicker to make clutch kicks in two games was costly.

That the Saints are 7-8 against one of the weakest schedules in franchise history speaks volumes.

Consider the records of the teams New Orleans has beaten this season:

Tennessee 5-10
Carolina (twice) 2-13
New England 4-11
Indianapolis 8-7
Chicago 7-8
New York Giants 5-10

That amounts to a combined mark of 31-59 and just one win against a team with a winning record.

Consider the quarterbacks of the teams New Orleans has beaten this season:

Ryan Tannehill (benched)
Bryce Young (rookie)
Mac Jones (benched)
Gardner Minshew (backup)
Tyson Bagent (backup)
Tommy DeVito (backup, benched)

For that matter, the Saints lost at Minnesota to reserve Josh Dobbs and lost at Atlanta to Desmond Ridder. Both have since been benched.

The notoriously slow starts by the New Orleans offense are striking.

In 15 games, the Saints have yet to score a touchdown on their opening possession, registering just a pair of field goals.

That is startling, revealing of the lack of a good game plan and the lack of execution. The start of every game consists of the best plays, calculated through a thorough review of the opponent and scheming to attack that opponent.

It also accentuates the lack of urgency this team has possessed.

Just how bad have the starts to games been for the Saints?

New Orleans has trailed in 10 of 15 games at and was tied in an eleventh contest.

The Saints managed to rally in the second half to win three of those games.

Here is how those games unfolded:

Week 1–Tennessee. Trailed 3-0 and 9-6 at half in 16-15 win.
Week 2–@ Carolina. Trailed 3-0, led 6-3 at half, won 20-17
Week 3–@ Green Bay. Led 17-0 at half, lost 18-17.
Week 4—Tampa Bay. Led 3-0, trailed 14-3 at half, lost 26-9.
Week 5–@ New England. Led 7-0, 21-0 at half in 34-0 win.
Week 6–@ Houston. Trailed 7-0, 17-10 at half, lost 20-13.
Week 7—Jacksonville. Trailed 7-0, 17-6 at half, lost 31-24.
Week 8–@ Indianapolis. Trailed 7-0, 17-7, led 21-20 at half, won 38-27.
Week 9–Chicago. Trailed 7-0, tied 14-14 at half, won 24-17.
Week 10–@ Minnesota. Trailed 3-0, 24-3 at half, lost 27-19
Week 11–@ Atlanta. Led 3-0, trailed 14-9 at half, lost 24-15.
Week 12–Detroit. Trailed 21-0, 24-7 at half, lost 33-28.
Week 13–Carolina. Scoreless after one quarter, led 14-3 at half, won 28-6
Week 14–New York Giants. Trailed 3-0, led 7-6 at half, won 24-6
Week 15–@ Los Angeles Rams. Trailed 7-0, 17-7 at half, lost 30-22

The best teams in the NFL in 2023 include San Francisco (11-4), Philadelphia (11-4), Detroit (11-4) and Dallas (10-5) in the NFC.

In the AFC, the best teams are Baltimore (12-3), Miami (11-4), Cleveland (10-5), Kansas City (9-6) and Buffalo (9-6).

Of those nine teams, the Saints have faced one and lost to the Lions.

The table was set for the Saints, who had the most experienced, accomplished starting quarterback in the division in Derek Carr.

Heading to week 16, Carr is 20th in the NFL in QBR at 50.8, though Carr is 11th in passer rating at 93.6, a very respectable number. Carr is also at 67.4 completion percentage, sixth best in the league with 19 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

Baker Mayfield of Tampa Bay is 15th at 56.9 and he is ninth in passer rating at 94.4. Mayfield has completed 64.3 percent of his passes with 26 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

The comparison has and will be judged by wins and losses and return on investment.

The Saints made a huge investment in Carr with minimal return, to this point.

The Bucs made a minimal investment in Mayfield with maximum return, to this point.

That narrative could change this Sunday and over the next two weeks if Carr plays well, the Saints beat the Bucs and Falcons and the Bucs lose to the Saints and Panthers.

Anything is possible but it is not likely.

To do so, the Saints have to get off to a better start Sunday.

Anything is possible but based on the extensive evidence of 15 games, that is not likely.