Injuries significantly impacted the Saints defense during the game. They were already without linebacker Demario Davis, and his substitute, Willie Gay Jr., had to leave the field due to a hand injury. Safety Tyrann Mathieu also went down and was pulled from play, leading to special teams player J.T. Gray stepping in for an excessive number of snaps. On the offensive side, Taysom Hill exited with an abdomen injury after scoring two early touchdown runs, and the offensive line was further weakened by the absence of Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz.
Derek Carr’s performance was notably poor. He missed several throws and frequently put the ball in jeopardy. If the Saints aim to operate primarily as a run-first team with limited passing attempts, Carr will need to improve his efficiency and ensure that he delivers the ball where his receivers can easily catch it. Although he faced pressure, many of his decisions were questionable.
The game mirrored previous performances of Dennis Allen’s teams. The squad possesses considerable talent but has critical flaws that prevent them from maintaining a winning record. They must recognize this recurring issue and implement significant changes beyond what was done in the offseason. The team seems to have reached its peak.