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After ranking among the league leaders in takeaways after seven games, the New Orleans Saints’ defense is fighting through a bit of a drought going into Sunday night’s key NFC South matchup with the Carolina Panthers.

Through seven games, when they had a 6-1 record following a 35-17 blowout of the Buffalo Bills, the Saints had 15 takeaways — nine interceptions and one fumble recovery.

But in the five games played since then, a stretch in which the team has gone 3-2, the Saints have forced two turnovers.

Both were claimed by cornerback Corey White on an interception against San Francisco and fumble recovery that was forced by teammate Keyunta Dawson at Atlanta.
That’s just two takeaways in 20 quarters of play compared to 15 in the first 28 quarters of the season.

“I don’t know specifically,” Saints coach Sean Payton said when asked about the drought. “We’ve had our opportunities. Hopefully, they’ll come and we get a clump of them this weekend. That statistic is important.”
On the other side of it, the Panthers have 26 takeaways to tie for second in the league — just one behind the Seattle Seahawks.

Read more: Sean Payton wants Saints playing takeaway | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Related article: New Orleans Saints hope turnovers swing their way vs. Carolina Panthers: notebook | NOLA.com

SmashMouth

They just need to hang on when the opportunity arises.

hagan714

tackle first strip second. come on the seahawks used our over aggressive play against us all game last week. discipline discipline discipline

if the turn overs happen they happen. if we do not turn the ball over we are good.

i can live with zero for us and zero for them all season long

SaintsBro

We need not just turnovers from the defense but POINTS from the defense as well. We can't rely on the offense to get it done. We need pick 6's or fumbles returned for TDs, like the one Seattle had against us, if we want to be a playoff team. If the offense keeps up with the 3 and outs, and puts up only 7 points like it did the other night, and we score 21.2 average on the road, for instance 20 against the Jets, that is not enough to get it done against a quality team. (The Saints average 33.2 ppg at home but that is just two of their remaining games.) The Rams average well above 23 points per game, 24 at home, so just our current O alone by itself, will be stretched to get it done. And that's just the lowly Rams. The Saints will absolutely need to pick up scores from the defense and special teams, in order to beat a good team on the road. The Saints offense on the road is comparable to an average 8-8, 7-9 team, in terms of comparing points per game.

saint3op

First time poster; entire life fan.

I wanted a positive reply and this stuck out. Can anyone imagine what drugs one was on if they would have said this last year?

I think the Saints will come out swinging this Sunday and redeem themselves of the game they didn't play on Monday night. I want to see this quote come to fruition, but I also want and expect to see the O light it up.

Geaux Saints!

Danno

I'll settle for a lot more 3 and outs.

halloween 65

Sounds like the D is a little under fire to me.

dueceloose

Saints need to play takeaway and keep away

Danno

After the last 3 weeks I'd think he best be concerned about an offense thats gone 3 and out 13 times, and is only averaging 15 points per game.

papz

Welcome aboard.