We have talked a lot in recent days about the Saints not having found themselves in this position before, at least not in the Sean Payton era. The last time New Orleans lost five straight games was in 2005, a year before the head coach’s tenure began.
That’s true mathematically, at least. But if you look at this season and really think about it, the lows, the valleys, the troughs, the craters — it’s not all that unfamiliar. Just compare it to that feeling deep inside your gut, and you might say: Yeah, we’ve been here before.
This column will now pause for some positive mojo
The difference is it’s a now a 17-game season 2021. There is a small group of elite teams in the NFC (think Packers, Cardinals, Bucs and Cowboys) and then a much larger group still “in the hunt.” If the math says the Saints are still in it for the playoffs (win or lose against the Jets) that’s good enough for me, as long as I’m not the one doing the math.
The Saints, like the other “hunting” teams out there, will spend the bulk of their remaining schedule hoping to beat up on teams within their division. And that’s good news for the Saints, assuming they can put an end to the ongoing streak and finish strong. It might not have to be a perfect finish for a chance at the playoffs, but it’ll probably have to be close.
And now back to the less optimistic items
It’s been 16 years since the Saints were mired in a 5-game losing streak. That’s true, but sitting 5-7 in Week 14 of the NFL season is not an unfamiliar spot. It’s actually happened four times since 2006. The most recent came in 2016. Before that, it occurred in 2014, 2012, and 2007. The Saints lost three of those Week 14 game, and the WhoDat Nation had to endure a holiday shopping season at 5-8 and feeling well out of the playoff race.
In each of those four seasons the Saints finished 7-9, ah, yes … those happy seasons. Remember those years when the Black and Gold didn’t set it on autopilot for 13 wins? The team was either the cream of the crop or 7-9.
2021 remains up in the air. The math says the Saints don’t HAVE TO beat the Jets to make the postseason. But I’m going to disagree. I think this team, right now, must end the slide. This team has to prove it can win again. It needs to prove it can do that with whoever is out there. This team has to finish strong. If not, it’s likely the equivalent of 7-9 with an extra game to add. Call it 8-9 or 7-10, it wouldn’t change much.
This team won’t quit, I believe that. It’s overcome way too much to let this season fade away without a fight.
This team, this region deserves better. While hosting “Fans and the Pros” Friday with Deuce McAllister, someone reached out on the talk and text line and commented: Would the Saints even want the final playoff spot, with a quick exit almost certain?
The answer: Hell yes.
What will the answer be for the season itself? We’ll get a piece of that answer in Week 14. It’ll either be a step toward a strong finish, or yet another sad signal — and maybe the last one needed — in a lost season.
