5 Things We Loved and Hated Most In Saints Loss to Titans

What We Hated: The Play Of The Defense

Nov 8, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints free safety

Jairus Byrd

(31) and cornerback

Keenan Lewis

(21) collide the ball would be caught by Tennessee Titans tight end

Delanie Walker

(82) and run in for a touchdown during the first quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Sometimes it can be wrong to toss an entire performance by a starting cast into the burner, but this is one of the few times where they simply deserved it. There were players who had decent games, and some made some nice plays, but as a unit the above photo captures the game perfectly.

That really happened, and what is funny is it isn’t the first time it has happened this season. This same type of play has occurred multiple times throughout the year. If it didn’t fit so well into the Saints chronicled history of mishaps, you’d be forced to cry instead of laugh.

Whether it was due to injuries (and several key Saints players were missing yesterday, including two starting linebackers) or simply a defense who got behind and could never catch up to what the offense was doing the end result was the same. New Orleans defense collapsed and gave this game to the Titans.

In the beginning, things weren’t looking that bleak. The defense had stopped multiple drives and had the momentum in their favor. Everything broke down after one play, the above pictured play, and from that moment the team could never seem to get the game rolling in their direction.

Playing as the aggressors is usually the preferred course for all defenses. Being forced back onto your heels and being uncertain of what is coming up is a very precarious position to be in.

Credit must also be given to the Titans. They found the Saints weakness and exploited it all game. While several “lucky” plays certainly did fall into the hands (literally) of the receivers, the coaching staff of the Titans focused on the interior of the field with various slant and crossing patterns.

The most distressing part of the failure of yesterday’s defensive showing was the breakdown in the football fundamentals. Missed tackles, missed assignments and broken plays allowed the 2nd half, and OT, offense for Tennessee to do as they pleased.

The strides this defense has made so far this season aren’t negated by one bad game, but it does go to show that this team still has a long way to go before they can be viewed as a contender as many hoped they would. You simply can’t beat strong teams like the Falcons and Giants and follow it up by losing to the Titans.

Contenders simply don’t do that.

Next: A Dismal Performance