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Stymieing the Carolina Panthers didn't give the New Orleans Saints' defense some titanic accomplishment in Week 9. But at least it signified a turnaround for the defensively challenged team.

It was the second consecutive game the Saints' defense became an asset rather than a liability. The unit slowed down the highly potent Green Bay Packers the previous week and played well enough to topple the Lions in Detroit two weeks prior.

The Saints were 4-4 and on the cusp of a three-game homestand. That certainly was thought to be the turning point, when the Saints would regain the form that made them a top-notch defense in 2013. Instead, the elevator ride back down to futility commenced slowly.

The lack of stops on third- and/or four-and-long and a leaky run defense were exposed against San Francisco.

Against Cincinnati a week later everything fell apart. No pass rush. Again an inability to leave the field on third down. No run defense. No energy.

Not much changed last week vs. Baltimore. Besides one takeaway, everything remained status quo or even regressed (run defense). Consecutive weeks of poor third-down defense dropped the Saints to the basement of the NFL in the category.

Next up for the Saints? A Pittsburgh Steelers offense at Heniz Field probably playing its best in the Ben Roethlisberger era. Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown look like Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, plus the Steelers employ at bowling ball at running back with Le'Veon Bell in the midst of a Pro Bowl season.

"It looks like the best one we've seen on tape. We've seen some good offenses. And I know everybody is, 'Oh, you've made them look good.' Oh, bull----," Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. "They've (opposing offenses) been pretty good. This one is on point. There's no question."

Ryan's comments don't exactly lend themselves for many, if anyone, to believe the defense can climb out of its malaise.

Saints coach Sean Payton expressed optimism, believing his wayward defense can again find its way. He said trying to improve a sub-par aspect of any team is the essence of coaching. The players seem to be buying in.

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blackangold

Too much optimism on this 4-7 team. I think they are still in the denial stage.

Although, what do I expect them to say? "Yeah, we don't stand a chance in this one. PITT is going to put up 40 and we'll be lucky if we can hang 10 points on the board".... lol

CheramieIII

Come on Blackangold. We're a lot better than our record. Cleveland by 2, San Fran by 3 in OT, Lions by 1 and Atl at home by 3 in OT we could just as easily be 8-3. We lost those games by 1 mistake or a turnover.

RailBoss

I can go with that III they come down to anyone's games but in the past we used to win those!

spkb25

we played a handful of decent games this year, otherwise we look like ****. Both sides of the ball.

Foot Stomper

agree on the still in denial part of it. Go out and show you are better. Quit talking about it.

spkb25

And I'll tell you right now, if you think that is **** is going to magically change you and I have lost it. We are not good. We play with 0 emotion and that I don't understand. There is no sense of urgency and 0 hunger. I think that, more than losing, is what bothers me the most.

saintsfan1976

We're still in the playoff hunt. What would you all EXPECT them to say???

I hope we make the playoffs.
I hope a team overlooks us.
I hope we take our chances in the road, in a dome and find ourselves one win from the Super Bowl. (At least)

And it could happen - WITH these players.

blackangold

You haven't been watching the same team I have been then. This is not the good Sean Payton teams, this is the 7-9 Sean Payton version.

Danno

Thats simply not true.