Rating: (0 votes - average)

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has said several times this year his team has a slim margin of error.

In three of the Saints' six losses, they've had a kick blocked that resulted in points equal to or greater than the final margin of defeat, but the players know it would be wrong to blame special teams for the 4-6 start.

The offense had four turnovers the loss to the Denver Broncos that involved a blocked extra point and two giveaways in the loss to the Carolina Panthers in which there was a blocked field goal. In the other game with a blocked field goal, a Week 2 loss to the New York Giants, the Saints gained just 288 yards.

In the Saints' other three losses, they gave up an average of 35.7 points, so the defense obviously deserves blame for the record, too.

The Saints have so rarely had moments this year in which the offense, defense and special teams all played well. A few more plays by any phase in the losses surely would've resulted in a better record.

Instead, New Orleans is left reflecting on costly mistakes, and with six games remaining, the team has to figure out how to correct them.

"That's why it's so frustrating," right tackle Zach Strief said. "There is a feeling of this team coming around and coming together, and yet we can't overcome some of the stuff that we're doing."

Saints know they have no margin of error after repeated close losses | NOLA.com

RailBoss

Of all the games we played we won only one game with a substantial lead.
Saints 41 49ers 23 all the rest of the wins were a few points.