3 Saints to blame for disappointing loss to Eagles in Week 3

It took three weeks, but the New Orleans Saints have finally lost a football game. After two weeks of running the score up, New Orleans lost a defensive battle to the Philadelphia Eagles 15-12. The offense couldn’t get going, and the defense couldn’t get a stop when they needed to.

Evident in how the game unfolded, a lot of people were at fault. A team doesn’t play a game like New Orleans did without shortcomings from multiple players, groups, and coaches. Let’s take a look at the people most at fault for the Week 3 loss.

3. The interior offensive line

If viewers had to pick just one reason to explain why the Saints offense looked nothing like it did in the first two weeks, the answer would be the interior offense line. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter absolutely dominated New Orleans, getting off blocks to stop the run, and moving past lineman to get in the backfield on passes.

These struggles from the interior offensive line could have a lot to do with starting center Erik McCoy going down with a groin injury on the first series. His absence led to Lucas Patrick moving to center and Oli Udoh going to left guard. Those two, along with Cesar Ruiz, couldn’t get the job done and it stalled the offense.

2. The defensive front

The final score is a bit deceiving to how the Saints defense played on Sunday. Only allowing 15 points, that would suggest they played a pretty good game. However, they struggled to stop Philly throughout the game, and were often bailed out by turnovers and poor decisions from the Eagles.

New Orleans was extremely vulnerable up front, unable to stop Saquon Barkely and Philly’s rushing attack. The Eagles ran the ball 25 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Barkley finished the day with 17 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Even if you take away his 65-yard score, he still would’ve averaged over five yards a carry. That’s not going to get it done defensively.

1. Dennis Allen

Dennis Allen is on this list for one reason, and it’s because of something he did as the defensive play caller, not as head coach. For as bad as the offense played on Sunday, they found a way to put together a late drive to take the lead with two minutes left. All New Orleans’ defense had to do was get a stop, preventing the Eagles from scoring a touchdown.

The Saints came extremely close, forcing Philly into a 3rd-and-16 play from the Philadelphia 35. That’s when Allen made the mind-boggling decision to run man coverage. It backfired, as the Eagles ran a route concept that caused three defenders to run into each other, allowing Dallas Goedert to catch a shallow drag route and take it 61 yards. A play later, the Eagles scored the game-winning touchdown.

Philadelphia had been going to Goedert on drag routes all game. Additionally, there was no reason to go to an aggressive defense like man in that situation. Two stops away from a win, the Saints could’ve ran a zone coverage that forced the Eagles to throw a short pass, and New Orleans would’ve been able to come up and make a tackle.

That would’ve forced Philly into a game-deciding 4th-and-long play. Instead, Allen did exactly what the Eagles wanted, running man coverage, and now the Saints have their first loss of the season.

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