Saints worse than ever on first downs in Drew Brees-Sean Payton era
 

METAIRIE, La. -- There are plenty of things wrong with the New Orleans Saints' offense. But if you're looking for the biggest culprit, start at the beginning: They've been lousy on first downs.

In fact, the Saints have been worse on first downs than in any other season during the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, they are averaging 4.82 yards per play on first downs, which ranks 27th in the NFL and is by far their lowest average since 2005.

Saints worse on first downs than ever in Drew Brees-Sean Payton era - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN

Re: Saints worse than ever on first downs in Drew Brees-Sean Payton era
 

If anyone's curious, here they are (Eagles game). Sorry but it was too painful for me to go through and do the other games.

1st and 10 at NO 39 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short left to C.Spiller to NO 36 for -3 yards (M.Jenkins)
1st and 10 at PHI 38 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short left to W.Snead
1st and 10 at NO 20 D.Brees pass incomplete deep middle to B.Cooks (W.Thurmond)
1st and 10 at NO 46 M.Ingram right tackle to PHI 45 for 9 yards (C.Barwin)
1st and 10 at PHI 35 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass deep left to B.Cooks to PHI 10 for 25 yards (W.Thurmond)
1st and 10 at NO 20 D.Brees pass incomplete short left to B.Watson
1st and 10 at NO 13 (No Huddle) M.Ingram right end to NO 16 for 3 yards (B.Maxwell)
1st and 10 at NO 35 (Shotgun) K.Robinson right end ran ob at NO 47 for 12 yards
1st and 10 at NO 47 M.Ingram right end to 50 for 3 yards (B.Logan)
1st and 10 at PHI 28 M.Ingram left end to PHI 29 for -1 yards (B.Logan)
1st and 10 at NO 28 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle to M.Colston to NO 39 for 11 yards (J.Hicks)
1st and 10 at NO 39 (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Brees sacked at NO 31 for -8 yards (F.Cox). FUMBLES (F.Cox) [F.Cox], RECOVERED by PHI-J.Hicks at NO 31. J.Hicks to NO 31 for no gain (M.Ingram). PENALTY on PHI, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. The Replay Official reviewed the fumble ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands
1st and 10 at NO 28 D.Brees kneels to NO 27 for -1 yards

2ND HALF
1st and 10 at NO 25 (Shotgun) K.Robinson left end to NO 27 for 2 yards (J.Hicks; C.Thornton)
1st and 10 at PHI 27 M.Ingram left end to PHI 26 for 1 yard (F.Cox)
1st and Goal at PHI 10 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short right to M.Ingram
1st and 10 at NO 20 D.Brees sacked at NO 11 for -9 yards (F.Cox). FUMBLES (F.Cox) [F.Cox], RECOVERED by PHI-F.Cox at NO 13. F.Cox to NO 13 for no gain (M.Unger)
1st and 10 at NO 20 M.Ingram right guard to NO 21 for 1 yard (F.Cox)
1st and 10 at NO 30 D.Brees pass short right to M.Hoomanawanui to NO 37 for 7 yards (M.Jenkins)
1st and 10 at NO 27 M.Ingram left guard to NO 44 for 17 yards (M.Jenkins; N.Carroll)
1st and 10 at NO 44 (Shotgun) K.Robinson right end to NO 45 for 1 yard (J.Hicks)


^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ (below this line is when it basically became what most folks would call "garbage time" -- down by 3 scores

1st and 10 at NO 20 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short left to B.Watson to NO 29 for 9 yards (W.Thurmond)
1st and 10 at PHI 12 D.Brees pass short right to M.Hoomanawanui to PHI 11 for 1 yard (D.Ryans). FUMBLES (D.Ryans), RECOVERED by PHI-B.Maxwell at PHI 15. B.Maxwell to PHI 17 for 2 yards (B.Cooks)
1st and 10 at NO 20 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle to M.Ingram to NO 33 for 13 yards (M.Jenkins)
1st and 10 at NO 33 (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Brees pass short left intended for B.Coleman INTERCEPTED by W.Thurmond [M.Smith] at NO 48. W.Thurmond to NO 4 for 44 yards (W.Snead)
1st and 10 at NO 20 (No Huddle, Shotgun) C.Spiller right tackle to NO 28 for 8 yards (E.Rowe)
1st and 10 at NO 42 (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Brees pass short left to C.Spiller to NO 42 for no gain (N.Goode)
1st and 10 at PHI 46 (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Brees pass short left to B.Cooks pushed ob at PHI 38 for 8 yards (E.Biggers)
1st and 10 at PHI 35 (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Brees sacked at PHI 46 for -11 yards (B.Braman)
1st and 10 at PHI 16 (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Brees pass short right to K.Robinson to PHI 15 for 1 yard (N.Goode)

Re: Saints worse than ever on first downs in Drew Brees-Sean Payton era
 

I got interrupted with a phone call while in the middle of counting so don't fault me for mistakes in math if I''m off, but what I got is:

10 runs,
18 passes

35% run
64% pass

Whether it's just first down or the whole game, that's never been a winning ratio for Payton and Drew

Re: Saints worse than ever on first downs in Drew Brees-Sean Payton era
 

Start at the beginning. The offensive line is being ripped.