The 2023 season opening with so much promise and possibility. A favorable schedule, a new QB, a defense that was expected to be elite.
But a 24-15 defeat in Atlanta that erased a prime chance to take control of the NFC South laid a lot of issues bare, particularly when it came to failures stopping the run as the Falcons rolled up 228 rushing yards. And now at 6-5, Bobby Hebert explains why the results the rest of the way will determine how hot the seats get under the coaching staff and the Dennis Allen regime.
Listen to Hebert's full post-game rant in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
"Dennis Allen is playing for his job," Hebert said. "What’s gonna occur against the Lions? What’s gonna occur on a schedule that is so favorable you think on paper, how can we not win? But maybe we’re not even middle of the pack. Maybe we’re bottom of the pack. Who knows what’s gonna occur? I don’t know.”
If there was a grace period this late in the season, it should be over. With an opportunity to take control of the NFC South, the Saints made pivotal mistake after pivotal mistake on a day where they didn't reach the end zone once. Two of those mistakes were in the red zone, one a 92-yard pick-6 off Derek Carr and the other a fumble by Taysom Hill inside the 5.
"No excuses, no, this is garbage," Hebert continued. "All I know is you’re not winning any games if you don’t score in the red zone."
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It won't get any easier. The Saints are now dealing with a slew of significant injuries a game after losing Michael Thomas and Marshon Lattimore to injuries that landed them on injured reserve. Rashid Shaheed suffered a quad injury early in the game that ultimately forced him to the locker room after he attempted to play through it. Chris Olave had a huge first half with 7 catches for 114 yards, but that was his final line after a hard fall resulted in a concussion.
There won't be many optimists left when another team rolls into town with a host of familiar faces in Detroit. The Saints don't have margin left, they have to find a way to string some wins together, otherwise the season will get late early. But in the end, the NFC South could very well come down to a Saints Falcons rematch in Week 18 in the Dome.
"There’s still a light at the end of the tunnel," Hebert said. "It’s dim, but I still think it’s gonna come down to the last game of the season in the Caesars Superdome. Whoever wins that game is gonna win the NFC South."