27 Oct 2024

Saints drop sixth straight game, losing to Chargers 26-8

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For the first time in nearly two decades, the New Orleans Saints have now lost six games in a row.

The Saints losing to the Los Angeles Chargers 26-8 on Sunday pairs the current team with the 2005 squad that lost six straight as the city and the franchise was in shambles following Hurricane Katrina.

Here’s a quick recap of the game.

Scoring summary

While rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, making his third start in the absence of Derek Carr, failed to get the Saints into the red zone a single time on Sunday, Dennis Allen’s group did find a couple of different ways to get on the scoreboard in the team’s overall poor performance.

New Orleans was the first to score when Los Angeles punter JK Scott botched a first-quarter kick that tailed out of the back of the end zone. It was the first safety forced by the Saints since 2020 and gave them an early 2-0 lead.

The score remained until the second quarter when the Chargers marched down the field in consecutive drives to score nine points before the half as Cameron Dickens converted a 46-yard field goal and running back J.K. Dobbins dove in from one yard out to make it a 9-2 game. New Orleans kicker Blake Grupe knocked one through the uprights with five seconds left in the first half to make it a 9-5 score at the break.

Despite the Saints getting the ball to start the second half, Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert and rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey took over. In the second possession of the third quarter, the pair connected on a 60-yard touchdown.

The dynamic duo was on display again at the end of the fourth quarter when Herbert scrambled out of the pocket on third down and found McConkey in the back corner of the end zone from nine yards out to make for a 26-8 final.

The Saints’ only other score of the day came on a Grupe kick in the third quarter.

What the coach said

After the game, New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen appeared puzzled about the devolution his team has seen this season. After winning its first two games, over the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys, by a combined 62 points, the team has now dropped six in a row.

“They made a couple of long passes down the field, and we couldn’t get going offensively. We have to go back and evaluate what’s going on,” said Allen, who now has a 26-52 career coaching record between the Raiders and Saints.

“The people in the room that are in our locker room [need] to fix it, and we have to pay attention to more details because details matter in our league. Ultimately, we have to play better as a group. I thought we were sloppy today and we have to rely on our better players to help us make plays.”

When asked about a potential change in personnel or coaching staff with the upcoming trade deadline and fans growing impatient, Allen shot back: “We did a good job on a lot of things. We should limit the plays we can’t control. Mickey (Loomis) and I have conversations every day. It’s a results-oriented business and we all understand that.”

Numbers never lie

McConkey’s two touchdown receptions led the young receiver to become the first Chargers rookie in 11 years to have a 100-yard game. Herbert had 328 total yards and the two touchdown throws to McConkey to help Los Angeles (4-3) bounce back from a last-second loss to the Arizona Cardinals last Monday.

For New Orleans (2-6), running back Alvin Kamara had 122 yards after signing a two-year, $24.5 million extension earlier this week. Chris Olave had eight receptions for 107 yards. Jake Haener replaced Rattler in the third quarter and finished with 122 yards on 9 of 17 passing.

Next up

The Saints will try to get back on track against the Carolina Panthers, one of two teams they have beaten this season. Kickoff is set for noon CT on Sunday, Nov. 3.

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