Saints Lose to Lions: The Good, Bad, and UNFORGIVABLE
By Bob Rose
Dec 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton against the Detroit Lions during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Lions defeated the Saints 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
THE UNFORGIVABLE: WITH THEIR SEASON ESSENTIALLY “ON THE LINE”, THE SAINTS COME OUT FLAT AS A PANCAKE AND LAY A HUGE EGG (NO INTENSITY)
Sean Payton admitted in his post game press conference that his team looked “sluggish”. Any observer would have to conclude that the Saints did not appear to play with any intensity or urgency whatsoever.
Evidently, the team missed the memo that would have stated: “If you lose, You stay home for the playoffs!”
Coach Payton looked like he could suit up in a uniform and play with some effectiveness; his intensity on the sideline this season cannot be questioned.
However, if reports before the game are to be believed, and Payton did indeed re-claim the bulk of the play calling duties, then perhaps that should be re-evaluated.
The offense seemed to lack the aggressiveness and imagination that it has had the majority of this season.
The bottom line is that this team was simply not ready to play; something that Payton admitted to after the game. This was their most important game of the season, making this performance both inexplicable and inexcusable.
Eerily reminiscent of some of the previous eras of Saints teams mentioned at the beginning of this article (as in: the really “bad” teams from many years ago), or perhaps more recently of the 2014 team — when it seemed like every week was an opportunity to take control of a weak division that year, yet every week that team failed to show the heart or put forth the effort to do so.
Irregardless, this was a game that every individual associated with the Saints organization needs to look in the mirror and point the finger at themselves for blame. It was and is, absolutely UNFORGIVABLE…..