Is the New Orleans Saints Season Over?

Entering the 2012 NFL season it was expected that things wouldn’t be easy in the Big Easy for the New Orleans Saints and their fans, but no one could have predicted that they would begin the year 0-3 and searching for answers all across the board. With the suspensions and speculation from Bounty Gate looming over the organization like a huge storm cloud but winless following the first three weeks of the season wasn’t even a thought that a rose in anyone’s mind.

Following a 27-24 overtime upset at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in the Superdome the Saints are now searching for answers other than the season long suspension to head coach Sean Payton as to why they are winless following three games where they should have won at least two if not all three of them.

New Orleans’ main problem is on the defensive side of the ball, where they have repeatedly shown an inability to stop anyone running or passing the football. The offense is averaging a healthy 27.7 points per game but the defense is allowing 34 points per contest, including 40 points in the season opener versus the Washington Redskins, 35 points on the road against the Carolina Panthers and then 27 at home versus the Chiefs.

The Saints defense has given up 787 passing yards (262.3 per game), an abysmal 645 rushing yards (215 per game) and an astounding 1,432 total yards of offense (477.3 per game) through just three games. That kind of defense isn’t going to stop anyone not even a division three college football offense and that is the main reason (amongst others such as missing Payton’s leadership in the locker room and on the sideline) why this team is still searching for their first victory of the season and doesn’t seem as if they’re going to find it anytime soon.

Next week the Saints must head to Lambeau Field to face a very good Green Bay Packers team and then the following week will host the San Diego Chargers before receiving a much needed bye week October 14^th during week six of the year. Entering that bye week they could very easily be looking at an 0-5 record and positioning themselves for the 2013 NFL Draft instead of looking to make a run at Super Bowl XLVI which will be held in the Superdome.

One things is for certain if they want to win a game anytime soon they absolutely cannot allow games like the one Jamal Charles had against them yesterday to anyone else (33 carries for 233 rushing yards and a touchdown along with 6 receptions for 55 receiving yards). Saints defense you’re on the clock Drew Brees and your entire fan base are counting on you guys as a unit.