The New Orleans Saints are frustratingly consistent, and not in a good way.
The defense allowed the Patriots to drive the field for a touchdown on each of their first two possessions en route to a 25-19 loss in Week 6. That feat marked the fourth straight games the opposing offense had 14 points after their first two offensive possessions. It's a major issue for this team, as the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert broke down in his postgame rant.
"That has to change," Hebert said, "And we’ve been outscored now in the first quarter 65-16, so we’re having to play catchup.”
Hear Bobby Hebert's full postgame rant in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The run stretches back to Week 3 in Seattle, and also includes the loss to the Bills and the win over the Giants in Week 5. A big element of the difficult start was some tough moments for the Saints' young secondary. The first touchdown came with Demario Douglas appearing to get lost in coverage for a 53-yard touchdown from Drake Maye. The second touchdown came on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte, who fought through tight coverage from Kool-Aid McKinstry for a strong catch.
Patriots receivers making contested catches in critical moments was an unfortunate them of this game for the Saints.
"It was a long day for our young defensive backs," Hebert continued. "I think … they got kind of schooled a little bit when you look at the chunk plays.”
Related
Those missed opportunities for the Saints includes a critical fumble by Juwan Johnson as the Saints were driving for a go-ahead score, but also another series of misses for Chris Olave in situations that could've helped the Saints take control of the game. The most impactful was a missed connection in the end zone as the Saints were driving for a lead in the first half. The Saints settled for four field goals in the game. Olave did finish as the leading receiver in the game with 98 yards on 6 catches, a large chunk of that coming from a 53-yard reception on the first play of the game.
"He’s just got to come up with those plays if he’s a No. 1 receiver," Hebert said.
The Saints are now 1-5 and head back out on the road where they'll face the Chicago Bears (2-2) and a defense lead by former Saints head coach Dennis Allen.