Another Sunday. Another tough loss for the New Orleans Saints.
It’s fast becoming a season full of them.
Their 25-19 setback to the New England Patriots was the latest exercise in what has become a frustratingly familiar script. The Saints allowed their fourth consecutive opponent to score touchdowns on their first two drives, and from there, the futile game of catch-up was on. This time, the Saints weren’t the beneficiaries of five turnovers and failed to catch the Patriots on the scoreboard, which is usually the case.
The Saints are now 1-5, matching their worst six-game start since the dark Ditka days of 1999. They own the worst record in the NFC and can thank the lowly New York Jets for preventing them from having the worst mark in the entire league.
“We know that we’re a better team than what our record says,” quarterback Spencer Rattler said multiple times Sunday in what has become a familiar lament.
Regardless, the reality is, the Saints’ chances of making the playoffs are now exceedingly remote. Only three teams in NFL history have managed to overcome a 1-5 start and rally to make the playoffs: the 2020 Commanders, 2018 Colts and 2015 Chiefs.
And with a dicey road trip to Chicago on deck, followed by difficult matchups against what look to be a pair of playoff teams, Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Rams, the Saints’ chances of kick-starting a win streak seem dubious at best.
No, this season is what most of us thought it would be. It’s not 2000 or 2006. It’s a full-blown rebuilding campaign, with a new head coach, a new quarterback and a roster in various states of transition.
With the present being as bleak as it is, the Saints need to start planning for what they hope will be a more promising future. Tough seasons begat tough decisions, and the Saints have plenty to make on their roster.
With the trade deadline looming on Nov. 4, the Saints need to strongly consider each and every option presented to them. If that means departing with a popular veteran or two to improve their future, so be it.
It’s never easy to part ways with popular stars and locker room leaders, especially Ring of Honor-type players. And there’s a human element to consider with families and schools and mortgages, etc. But the reality is the Saints’ future might depend on it. You have to give something to get something, and the Saints’ few tradable assets are players that rank among the most popular on the team: Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Demario Davis and Taysom Hill.
The Saints’ front office has often been loyal to a fault. They tend to hold on to players and coaches longer than other teams, perhaps a nod to the club’s rare connection with its loyal fan base.
The club moved on from former Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore last season, and it proved to be one of the best decisions they’ve made in recent years. They should strongly consider similar moves in the days and weeks ahead.
If a 1-5 start (and potentially worse) doesn’t convince you to rip off the Band-aid, I’m not sure what will.
The future is now, and the Saints need to think and plan for it accordingly.
In some ways, they already are.
They started three rookies against the Patriots. Left tackle Kelvin Banks, safety Jonas Sanker and cornerback Quincy Riley look like core players going forward, joining Rattler, Kendre Miller and Kool-Aid McKinstry among young players that have moved into more prominent roles. A fourth rookie, linebacker Danny Stutsman, started to work into the rotation for the first time against the Patriots. Meanwhile, quarterback Tyler Shough is waiting in the wings for his chance to prove his bona fides.
The youth movement has been overdue for a few years now, and it’s finally happening before our eyes. As they say, better late than never.
For all intents and purposes, this season has always been about the future. Once Derek Carr “retired” in April, the Saints’ chances of salvaging a competitive campaign were severely jeopardized. Publicly, team officials and leaders said the right things about being competitive and challenging for a division title and playoff spot, but privately, they understood the reality of the task at hand.
This season might be a tough one, but it shouldn’t be a lost one. The Saints must use it to enhance their future. If that involves trading away a key player or two to acquire future draft picks, then it needs to be done.
Sean Payton taught us there are no sacred cows. He traded Reggie Bush, Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles in their primes. He dealt away high draft picks Donte Stallworth and Akiem Hicks. The decisions weren’t always right, but no one bats 1.000 in this league. His willingness to boldly do what he thought was necessary to improve the team’s future showed us the importance of having vision and a conviction.
Trading away stars isn’t always popular, especially in a market where players are often treated as family. But tough decisions rarely are. Being right is more important than being popular.
