The good, the bad, and the ugly from Saints vs. Falcons

Sep 29, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Some of the Saints’ best players showed up for this game. Taysom Hill scored two clutch touchdown runs, Chris Olave fought hard to make plays after the catch, and Alvin Kamara gained 100-plus yards from scrimmage with a touchdown run of his own to retake the lead late in regulation. All three of them were effective.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Rashid Shaheed (22) of the New Orleans Saints catches a pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Saints couldn’t get out of their own way, and they gifted the Falcons 14 of their 26 points off of preventable mistakes. First Rashid Shaheed muffed a punt inside his own 5-yard line. Then Derek Carr threw a dangerous pass that was batted into the air, recovered by the defense, and returned for a pick-six. The Atlanta offense didn’t need to do anything to score those points, and better judgment calls by both players could’ve kept those points from going up on the board.

This was a disappointing game from the defense. They allowed about 7 yards per carry for most of the afternoon until the Falcons let off the gas, dropping their average down to “just” 5.9 yards per attempt. It’s the second game in as many weeks when Dennis Allen’s defense has gotten run over. They aren’t stout enough at the line of scrimmage.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Drake London (5) of the Atlanta Falcons fails to pull in the reception against Alontae Taylor (1) of the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Injuries played a major role in this game for the Saints defense. It wasn’t enough that they had to play without Demario Davis at linebacker. His replacement Willie Gay Jr. exited with a hand injury. Then Tyrann Mathieu went down at safety and had to be pulled from the game; special teams ace J.T. Gray had to play an uncomfortable number of snaps in his stead. And on offense, Taysom Hill left the game with an abdomen injury after scoring a pair of early touchdown runs. That’s after the offensive line was whittled down without Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz in the lineup.

This was an ugly game by Derek Carr. He was off-target on several throws and put the ball in harm’s way far too often. If the Saints are going to try to be a run-first offense with low passing volume, he needs to be more efficient and quickly get the ball out where his receivers can catch it cleanly. Pressure was a problem but he just made too many poor decisions.

Ultimately this game was just too similar to too many others we’ve seen from Dennis Allen’s teams. This is who they are: a team with great talent but major underlying flaws, who can’t hold onto a record over .500. At some point they’re going to have to acknowledge this pattern and make even bigger changes than what we saw this offseason. They’ve peaked.

Aug 20, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a bag of footballs prior to the game between the Washington Commanders and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Things don’t get easier from here. The Saints must travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium for Week 5’s “Monday Night Football” feature in prime time. They’re going to have to find a way to win against Patrick Mahomes and the reigning Super Bowl champions in a hostile environment with all of America watching.