New Orleans Saints accomplish something they haven’t done in 35 years
The New Orleans Saints actually accomplished something during their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. But don’t worry — it wasn’t anything to jump for joy about.
Remember the 1980 Saints? It was a team that was incapable of improving from their previous year’s record of 8-8, but instead did the exact opposite, slumping to an all-time low by winning only one game that year.
During that previous season in 1979, two losses to close out home play in the Louisiana Superdome sparked a ten-game losing streak at home for the New Orleans Saints. It stretched from December 3, 1979 – December 21, 1980.
Well, it’s 2015, and that pleasant safe house we like to call the Superdome is once again a non-factor for the team it shelters. That’s right — “dome field advantage” is no more.
After Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay, the New Orleans Saints have now fallen short at home for six-straight games. Remember when Sean Payton and company dominated the Green Bay Packers for a Sunday night showdown last October? Remember? It was the game that was supposed to spark a turnaround after a slow start to the 2014 season, except everything spiraled downhill from there.
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October 26, 2014 is the last time the Saints won a game in front of a home crowd. That’s 11 months. Almost an entire year. If you want to include the preseason, New Orleans has lost eight-straight contests in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, but it’s only the regular season that counts, so that’s six losses.
That’s a big accomplishment for all the wrong reasons, an embarrassing and discouraging feat the New Orleans Saints have been unable to achieve in 35 years. Remember the “Aints?” But let’s not go there yet. Saints fans, get your hands in position — it’s almost time to hit the panic button.
I know it’s “still early.” But I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Whether it’s out on the field or in the front offices, it seems there is a lot of wrong happening within this New Orleans Saints organization, and it’s clearly showing.
The Saints are now in the NFC South cellar at 0-2, which makes them a long shot to make the playoffs. In fact, only 12% of NFL teams that started 0-2 since the new 12-team playoff format was adopted have made the postseason. If adjustments don’t happen soon and the team doesn’t get its rhythm and “mojo” back, fans are going to be highly disappointed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being optimistic, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
The New Orleans Saints are no longer feared in the National Football League.