Saints Are in Denial After Loss To Redskins

Yes, the New Orleans Saints coaching staff and front office can try to spin the latest loss to the Washington Redskins all they want; but there’s no denying the obvious sitting at 4-6 on the season.

The Saints are a bad football team, period — and their season is pretty much a guaranteed wash even though their remaining schedule was supposed to be a cakewalk.

In a recent article I wrote how the remainder of the Saints season hinged on a win at Washington, but the team became unhinged as they dropped a 47-14 decision in a game that couldn’t end soon enough.

The defense that ranked just barely a notch above the Steve Spagnuolo led New York Giants unit will likely take that crown after today’s performance.

Oct 11, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Giants Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo looks on prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The Drew Brees engineered offense that seemed to be finding its groove somewhat was shut down with Brees throwing his lowest passing yards of the season with 209 total for two touchdowns.

The Redskins rush defense that was supposed to be at the bottom of the league bottled up running back Mark Ingram for only 77 yards rushing with most of that coming on a 70-yard run on the Saints first possession.

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Special teams was far from special as head coach Sean Payton was likely sending a stubborn message to fumble prone returner Marcus Murphy by having running back C.J. Spiller take kickoff duties in an attempt to, as Payton called it, bring some “juice”.

Well that orange was dry with Spiller only having an average of 19.7 yards on three returns and got drier when safety Jarius Byrd was given a go at it as well…good call coach.

Safety Kenny Vaccaro called the loss “embarrassing” in an interview following the game and cited the Redskins ability to utilize the screen game (which ironically we usually hear about the Saints doing well) and the defense’s inability to tackle as contributing factors to the loss.

Speaking of embarrassing, this loss may have been so much so that it could very well have been defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s final swan song after taking the Saints defensive unit from the upper heavens to the depths of purgatory in just a few seasons.

Nov 15, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan reacts on the sidelines against the Washington Redskins in the second quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 47-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Although Payton wouldn’t comment on any coaching changes and fellow Big Easy Believer writer Deuce Windham says that “historically” things only get worse with mid-season departures, it wouldn’t shock me if Ryan was sent packing during the bye week.

In fact, check that….he should be gone.

Next: It's Time For the Saints to FIRE Rob Ryan

I understand history and stats and whatever else you’d like to quote me but I’ll give you the definition of insanity:  doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting the same results.

If some change isn’t made now, definitely at the end of the season, the Saints will find themselves in deeper trouble they’re already in and an already frustrated fan base might begin to shrink some.

And I don’t want to place everything squarely on Ryan because coaches like Joe Vitt and Bill Johnson have been living on borrowed time and Payton’s friendship for way too long now and to be honest, nobody is scared of the stale offensive play-calling by the Payton and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael.

Aug 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis before a preseason game against the Houston Texans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Also the front office lead by general manager Mickey Loomis can shoulder some heat too as the salary and draft pick mortgages written years ago are now coming to back to bite them, the devil is collecting his due, the chicken have come home to roost, or whatever little quip you’d like to insert.

My original prediction for the season was 7-9 after hearing WWL 870’s Saints play-by-play commentator Jim Henderson’s take on the team at the end of training camp and prayed I was wrong.

Well I might be because from the looks of things, it’s actually going to be worse and a 6-10 or 5-11 finish to the 2015 campaign is looking more probable.

Yes there is really no denying where the Saints are heading after what could have been somewhat of a positive note with a win on Sunday.

They’re headed straight to the white board in their draft room and looking at resumes for a new defensive coordinator…..