All off-season, the New Orleans Saints were an organization, what with the now-infamous Saints bounty program and the subsequent suspensions of four players and three coaches, including head man Sean Payton. Whether those distractions have carried over to the football field is open to speculation.
The reality is the Saints are just playing bad football. At 0-3, they are the only team in the NFC without a victory after blowing an 18-point lead to the Kansas City Chiefs and losing, 27-24 in overtime
Aaron Kromer, the team’s interim to the interim coach, said after the game “For years we have been a dominant offense. Right now we’re not a dominant offense & we need to.”
For sure, it is an ominous time for New Orleans. The Falcons, their division rival, is player inspired ball, dominating their opponents like well, the Saints had much of the previous two years.
Quarterback Drew Bree, who did not complete a pass in the final period, said he was disappointed in the team’s effort. “Third and fourth quarters were pretty absymal,” said Brees,
Yes, they were. Kansas City tailback Jamaal Charles sparked the comeback with a 91-yard touchdown run in the third quarter which came immediately after Brees threw his only interception of the game. Charles finished with 233 yards on 33 carries as he repeatedly gashed the Saints’ defense. Kansas City outgained New Orleans 510-288 as the Saints had -14 yards in the fourth quarter.
In one of several lowlights for the crew of replacement officials working the game, New Orleans was briefly ruled the winner on the field in overtime when running back Shaun Draughn lost the ball stretching for a first down and safety Roman Harper picked up the ball and ran to the end zone. The fumble was overturned on video review, but the spot came up a half-yard short of a first down.
Charles easily converted a fourth-down run to extend the winning drive.
