After a hot start to the 2023 NFL season in which the new-look New Orleans Saints won two straight games against the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers, Derek Carr and company have cooled off considerably with two consecutive losses.
After losing by one point to the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 due to a miraculous comeback by Jordan Love and company in the fourth quarter, the Saints followed it up with a loss to the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even though this was a highly anticipated matchup between two teams that are expected to be competing for the NFC South crown this year, the Buccaneers dominated this game from the second quarter onwards, as New Orleans had no answer for Baker Mayfield and his squad.
As if losing to a division rival wasn’t bad enough, the Saints even had star running back Alvin Kamara back on the field as well as Carr, who had gone down the previous week with a shoulder injury against the Packers.
Most of the blame seemed to be directed at the offensive coordinator, Pete Carmichael, but head coach Dennis Allen doesn’t think making a change to the coaching staff makes sense right now, via ProFootballTalk.
Dennis Allen: Coaching changes aren't the right answer, particularly four games in. https://t.co/jXnHGLGQra
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 2, 2023
With the Buccaneers now having the edge in the division standings and the Atlanta Falcons also sitting at 2-2, the margin for error is getting pretty thin for the Saints moving forward because winning the division title might be the only way this team will be playoff-bound this season.
If the offensive struggles continue, especially with a healthy Carr and Kamara, Carmichael could be on the hot seat sooner rather than later.
NEXT: Alvin Kamara Gets Honest On Saints’ Offensive Struggles
