The New Orleans Saints have struggled badly on offense this season, with points being hard to come by. It was costly against the Atlanta Falcons, but this is way more than just a one game issue. The Saints are currently tied for last in the league in scoring, managing just 15 points per game.
A major contributor to the Saints scoring woes is their inability to finish drives in the red zone. They rank dead last in the NFL in red zone touchdown efficiency, converting just 34.48% of their opportunities. To put that in perspective, the next worst team the Houston Texans sit considerably higher at 44.12%.
This has been a persistent concern all season and the Saints aren’t carrying any positive momentum into their next matchup. Their struggles were on full display in their previous game against the Falcons, where the offense once again could not convert in the red zone.
Saints red zone woes prove to be costly in divisional showdown
The Saints continue to squander opportunities once they cross into enemy territory. They reached the red zone three times in their last matchup and came away with only three points.
One critical possession, New Orleans turned to Taysom Hill at quarterback on five different plays inside the 10 yard line. Instead of running their standard offense, they overcomplicated the situation, and the drive ultimately resulted in a turnover on downs.
Those missed opportunities completely shifted the momentum and kept the offense from ever settling in. The inability to capitalize on prime scoring chances also added pressure on the defense to keep the game within reach. Until the Saints can finish drives with touchdowns instead of field goals, their chances of winning games will remain slim.
The Saints got into scoring position multiple times versus the Falcons. Some of them were gifts to the offense. You aren't likely to get those opportunities in back to back weeks. You can have those same struggles back to back, however. They couldn't afford the empty possessions last week and it'll cost them this week again if the Saints don't get it together.
With only 5 games remaining, the Saints still have a chance to find answers and show meaningful improvement in that area, giving the organization a much needed sense of optimism as they head into the offseason and prepare for next year.