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They’re off to their first 3-0 start since winning Super Bowl XLIV, but the New Orleans Saints are turning their attention to an issue on offense that, if left unresolved, could prevent them from fighting for a second title or might get their $100 million quarterback hurt.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has already been sacked 10 times this year, a pace that translates to more than 53 sacks and 346 yards lost over a 16-game season.

Between 2006 — when coach Sean Payton took charge in New Orleans — and 2012, the Saints were consistently among the least-sacked teams in the NFL, surrendering a regular-season average of 21.1 sacks, or less than two a game, for 143 yards lost.

They’re headed toward giving up much more than that this year, though, after Brees was sacked twice in a 23-17 win over Atlanta (1-2), four times in a 16-14 win over Tampa Bay (0-3) and four more in Sunday’s 31-7 win over Arizona (1-2).

Center Brian de la Puente on Monday admitted that the amount of sacks on Brees so far is “unacceptable.”

“We take full responsibility for it, because we need to do a better job in giving him time,” de la Puente said. “We know when he has time, he’s very dangerous, so that’s our job to do a better part of it.”

Payton on Monday said part of the problem involves the fact that the Saints have seen more man-to-man coverage from defenses than usual, which can cause quarterbacks to hold onto the ball “a half-count longer” and may result in more sacks.

“It’s more challenging to find your interceptions on the defensive side, but it aids in getting quarterback sacks and hurries,” Payton said.

Read more: O-line issues keep pressure on Brees | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

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