The New Orleans Saints are experiencing a rough patch with five consecutive losses following a 2-0 start to their season, capped off by a significant 33-10 defeat to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. This game marked Sean Payton’s return to the Superdome since leaving the Saints after the 2021 campaign.
Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, who spent six seasons with the Saints from 2016 to 2022, appeared to take a jab at New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen, responding to a post on X that highlighted the jeers he received from fans during the game.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara expressed understanding toward the frustrated home crowd, stating he “can’t blame them” for their reaction, acknowledging that they are “fed up” with the team’s performance.
Initially, there was hope for the Saints at the start of the season. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak seemed to have revitalized the team, as they averaged 4.33 points per drive and scored on 15 consecutive possessions in their first two games.
However, this early success now appears to have been influenced by a small sample size and the relatively weaker defenses of the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys they faced in Weeks 1 and 2.
After racking up 91 points in their opening wins, the Saints have managed only 86 points during their current five-game losing streak, with their offense being held under 300 yards three times in recent weeks.
Part of the offensive struggles can be attributed to Spencer Rattler stepping in at quarterback due to Derek Carr’s injury, but the team’s decline was evident prior to Carr’s oblique injury in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Additionally, the Saints defense is also underperforming, leading to concern among fans, especially since Allen, who has a strong defensive background, was expected to have a positive impact when he took over as head coach in January 2022.
While Saints fans directed boos at Lutz during the game, he outperformed them, scoring 15 points with a perfect night of 4-for-4 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points against his former team.