3 takeaways from Saints’ frustrating Week 13 loss to Cowboys

Another game, another loss for the NOLA Saints, who are now 5-7 and riding a five-game losing streak. It’s been a frustrating month for this team and it’s hard to see them really trending upwards anytime soon. The offense is stagnant and the defense couldn’t eliminate the chunk plays. That proved costly.

With another game in the books, let’s take a look at three quick takeaways from the Saints’ 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Taysom Hill did provide a spark… until the fourth quarter

After a really bad game by Trevor Siemian in the embarrassing loss to Buffalo, the Saints made the right decision putting Taysom Hill in as the starter. Even with a hurt foot, Hill did what he could to keep the Saints in this game through the first three quarters.

When the game was all said and done, Hill had racked up over 100 yards rushing off of 11 carries and threw for over 260 yards (70+ of those yards were courtesy of Deonte Harris’ touchdown catch and run) and two touchdowns with four picks.

The four picks were an issue, obviously, and three of them came in the fourth quarter, which cannot happen. Hill was electrifying when running with the ball and that was working well for the offense when he was taking off with the pigskin. Things went south quickly once he was forced to throw though and we’re all aware that Hill just isn’t a prolific passer.

New Orleans had 10 points in this game until Harris popped off that big touchdown but the offense looked better with Hill in the first three quarters. The fourth quarter was when everything unraveled and Hill was to blame for that due to his three interceptions.

Worst call ever

The Saints were making a game of it in the third quarter after connecting on a field goal to make it a 13-10 ball game. Then, after the defense did their part and stopped the ‘Boys offense, the Saints ‘ offense took the field.

New Orleans had converted a first down but a flag was thrown. Apparently, tight end Garrett Griffin had a blindside block on a Cowboys defender, which backed the Saints up. The call was a terrible one, as Griffin looked to be simply blocking the defender.

Rich Eisen summed up the call well.

Little went right for the Saints after this call was made. They went 3-and-out on that drive and failed to score more points until the game was out of reach. It truly was a game-killer for the black and gold.

Defense did what they could

NOLA’s defense is constantly in a position where they have to play a near-perfect game because their offense simply can’t do anything. Despite a few chunk plays given up, the defense played well. Marshon Lattimore picked off Dak Prescott in the fourth quarter to give his team a chance, but Hill gave it right back with an interception of his own.

The pass-rush didn’t have much help due to the injuries to Tanoh Kpassagnon and Marcus Davenport but P.J. Williams did record a sack. One long touchdown run by Tony Pollard (what the heck was Marcus Williams doing on that play?) proved to be the difference in this one and that’s so unfortunate.

I know the Saints’ defense has given up some big plays but a mediocre offense could make up for that. This group simply has to do everything because the offense can’t carry the team.

After starting 5-2, the NOLA Saints are spiraling out of control with their 5-7 record. The playoffs seem out of reach at this point.