After a 9-8 season, the New Orleans Saints were one game away from making the playoffs in 2023. But going into the offseason, their prognosis is considerably more gloomy
This past season, the New Orleans Saints finished 9-8 and were one game out of the postseason. Some clubs will look forward to the offseason following a season like that, while others will consider it a success. But it was a disappointing, drama-filled season for the Saints. Nevertheless, it’s evident that New Orleans isn’t far from its desired state despite dropping many games by a single score.
Despite this fact, the Saints continue to be regarded as the most gloomy club coming into the offseason. That’s how the team was characterized by Kevin Patra in a recent NFL.com article. While detailing the one offseason decision that every NFL team has to make, Patra used a few sentences to criticize the Saints.
Before the 2024 offseason, there may not be a more dismal club. The Saints ought to have been a contender in 2023 on paper. Rather, they emerged diminutive. A portion of the coaching staff and locker room appeared to be at conflict during the whole campaign. I don’t see New Orleans making any significant rebuilding decisions because head coach Dennis Allen also has to win in order to maintain his position past 2024. The Saints will continue to do what they do best—restructure several contracts for seasoned players and delude themselves into believing they can win the NFC South comfortably.”
Can the Saints improve their situation in the off-season?
Even though Patra’s criticism of New Orleans may not have been warranted for this particular article, it is difficult to disagree with her comments. The Saints’ 9-8 record may have been largely attributed to their disorganized performance throughout the season, which led to a lot of tight games.
Dennis Allen will continue to be the head coach going forward, but in the offseason, New Orleans will be making roster and coaching staff changes. It will take time to see if those adjustments alter the culture and enable the Saints to win more games and challenge for a championship.
