not so easy in the Big Easy

Everybody knew that Peyton Manning is great, but perhaps it took us witnessing the team without him last year to realize just how valuable he is. We are getting the same thing this year with the other Payton (with an “a”), Sean, the coach of the Saints.

In a season already filled with surprises, the biggest shocker in Week 3 is the same thing from the opener, how disappointing the New Orleans Saints are. We all know they are 0-3, including two losses at home where they were 8-0 in 2011.

Obviously, the whole Bountygate mess has hurt an already bad defense. They simply cannot stop the run, and it’s going from bad to worse. Against the Redskins they allowed 153 yards (3.5 per carry). The Panthers ran for 219 yards (5.3 avg), and this week the Chiefs went wild for 273 yards, over SIX yards per carry!

Many people, myself included, figured Drew Brees is as good a coach and leader on the field as you need, but that clearly is not the case. Drew Brees and the offense are not getting it done in the 4th quarter with the game on the line. Brees threw an interception that sealed the game each of the first two weeks, and against the Chiefs the Saints gave up a safety on their last possession that resulted in KC getting 5 points to tie the game.

The only other 0-3 team is the Browns. At least they can say that the Eagles, Bengals and Bills are all 2-1. One of the most amazing things about the Saints this year is not just that they are 0-3, but their losses are to teams that are 0-6 against everyone else! Saints lose to teams that have losses to the Buccaneers (1-2) and Rams (1-2). When you put it that way, the Saints are the worst team in football! And with a trip to Green Bay next week, trip to Denver later in October, and games with Philadelphia, Atlanta and San Francisco in the upcoming schedule, it isn’t going to get better anytime soon.