Saints HC Dennis Allen doesn't deserve any more chances after loss to Rams
First, he did it against the NFC South teams not named the Carolina Panthers this season. Now, he's done it in the New Orleans Saints' biggest game of the year against the Los Angeles Rams. Dennis Allen strikes again. New Orleans entered Week 16 with a chance to skyrocket their playoff chances. With a win […]
First, he did it against the NFC South teams not named the Carolina Panthers this season. Now, he's done it in the New Orleans Saints' biggest game of the year against the Los Angeles Rams. Dennis Allen strikes again.
New Orleans entered Week 16 with a chance to skyrocket their playoff chances. With a win on Thursday night, they'd jump to a 72% chance at the postseason, according to ESPN analytics.
Allen's team, instead, showed up unprepared and got embarrassed by the 7-7 Rams.
The defense, in particular, could not stop a nose bleed. That's the unit that Allen is directly responsible for, and they fell on their face against a Rams offense that showed that they're simply better-coached and more determined in an important scenario.
The Rams ran for nearly 150 yards. Matthew Stafford was not touched, nor pressured, for most of the game. The aspects of defense that Allen hung his hat on for many years as the team's DC have dissipated. That hat no longer remains in New Orleans.
The disappointing, lackluster performance isn't a new instance for Allen. His head coaching record fell to 22-46 for his career. Both sides of the ball crumbled on important downs.
Overall, the Saints lost a pivotal game that they have lost every single time with him at the helm. There's no reason for him to be the Saints head coach in 2024.
The time is now. In actuality, it has been time for Mickey Loomis and the Saints front office to rip off the bandage. They backed Allen and his staff in the offseason – for whatever reason – and allowed him to hand-pick his own veteran quarterback.
That decision from Allen has also faltered as Derek Carr has not been the efficient distributor that coaches and fans hoped for before the season began. All in all, nothing has gone right when put in the hands of Allen in New Orleans as the HC.
Not to mention, Allen put his stock in himself and Pete Carmichael Jr. as the play callers for New Orleans in this do-or-die campaign. That stock has completely crashed.
New Orleans' offense has never found a consistent basis against above-average defenses, and the defense has struggled against teams that play a physical style of football. It's been a legitimate theme, and the Saints are paying for it. They move to 7-8 on the season.
The loss to the Rams tonight should simply double (or quadruple) down on what the Saints have already probably known in the back of their head. New Orleans needs a new head coach next season, and it would not be the worst decision to go ahead and move on after this loss.
If the Saints choose to somehow keep Allen, even if the Saints find a way to win their final two games of the year, it would be another massive mistake.
Week 15 win shouldn’t alleviate any of the pressure on Saints coach
At 7-7, the New Orleans Saints would not have a chance any a division title in most instances. The NFC South is different, though. They're currently tied for first in the division with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints have some momentum after two wins. Dennis Allen's stock has not moved much, but a playoff […]
