WhoDat!656

Well, this was…unexpected. What’s so shocking about this isn’t just that they’re losing; it’s who they’re losing to. The Saints simply could not have asked for a more generous opening to the 2012 season, a season that follows an offseason of unprecedented disruption. No head coach or interim head coach? Don’t worry; we’ll give you the ‘Skins, Panthers and Chiefs to open things up. Sound good?

It did sound good – until it didn’t.

In Week 1, against the Redskins, the Saints defense was bludgeoned for 459 total yards and 40 points. The ‘Skins, as if to say “screw you” to the Saints, scored exactly 10 points in each quarter. They did it through the air, they did on the ground, and they did it despite only going 4-15 on 3rd down. In short, the Saints D was ‘defenseless’ against the onslaught of Robert Griffin and his band of overpaid and/or overlooked teammates.

But that travesty was almost forgivable, given the circumstances. First game after the Bounty debacle, first game without Sean Payton, first game for Robert Griffin – no tape can be a powerful friend, as Cam Newton can attest to – it was an emotionally charged game and the Saints didn’t have their leader to keep them focused. The loss, though tough to swallow, makes some sense in that context.
But Sunday, against the Panthers, what was that? This same Panthers team that managed a paltry 10 rushing yards against the Bucs (THE BUCS!!!) tore up the Saints for 219 rushing yards and 3 TD’s. In total, Carolina put up 463 total yards. They axe-murdered the Saints, and unlike last week, there are no excuses. The fact is that Sean Payton is not coming back in 2012. He’s gone, and the team has to either rise above that or collapse in on themselves like a dying star. Thus far, they’ve chosen supernova.

So now the question must be asked, are the Saints dead in the water? Are they done? Are they completely out of the playoff picture? Of course, we’re just two games in, but the plight of the Saints is far more dire than you may have imagined, even at 0-2.

Now, let me just state that the Saints are NOT out of the playoff picture. As I pointed out, we’re just two games in, and there’s plenty of time for New Orleans to get it together. Anytime you have Drew Brees as your QB, you have a chance.

How slim that chance is, though, is another matter entirely. By losing two of their “winnable” games, New Orleans has made their schedule significantly more difficult. Instead of entering the difficult portion with a 3-0 cushion, they’ll enter it with 1 win, at the most. And trust me; things get tough in a hurry. Starting in Week 4, the Saints go to Green Bay, Denver, Atlanta, New York Giants, and Dallas; and face San Diego, Philly, Atlanta, and San Francisco at home. Brutal. Even their remaining “winnable” games – Tampa Bay twice and Carolina at home – don’t appear too winnable.

Of course, the schedule is only one part of the equation. The real problem isn’t who they’re playing, it’s how they’re playing (bad). They simply cannot allow 450+ yards every game and expect to get back in the playoff picture. Head coach or no head coach, the defense has to be fixed or the conversation isn’t even worth having.

NFL Week 2 Rundown: Saints step out on the ledge

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