Halo

If the Saints miss the playoffs this year, the telling moment will have been a stunningly inept sequence when they had first-and-goal at the 5-yard line during the third quarter of their loss at Arizona last Sunday.

Most analysts have focused on Ladell Betts, who handed the Cardinals 14 points with his dropped pass (off a questionable hard throw in traffic from Drew Brees) that turned into an interception near the New Orleans goal line in the second quarter and his lost fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the fourth.

Others have talked about the crazy bouncing balls that never went New Orleans’ way. The defense forced four fumbles with some devastating hits and timely swipes but recovered none of them, with one even turning into an Arizona touchdown.

Still, the Saints probably would have overcome both issues if they had not done everything conceivably wrong just as they were poised to break a 13-13 tie on their second drive of the second half.

The other problems were fluky. This was an all-too-real combo platter of sloppy execution, mental breakdowns and dumb decisions after New Orleans moving 67 yards in nine plays to get to the Arizona 5.

Attached Thumbnails