The New Orleans Saints made a significant change in their leadership on Monday, firing head coach Dennis Allen following a dismal 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers. This defeat marked the seventh consecutive loss for the Saints, a stark contrast to their promising start with back-to-back victories over the Panthers and Cowboys. Derek Carr gets sacked by the Panthers. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
According to NFL.com, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is expected to take the reins as interim head coach. The Saints’ decision to part ways with Allen comes as no surprise, given the team’s downward spiral since quarterback Derek Carr’s injury in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Sean Payton greets Dennis Allen after the Broncos’ win over the Saints. AP
Initially, the Saints’ offense showed immense potential, scoring an impressive 91 points in their first two games. However, the season began to unravel with narrow losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons. The injury to Carr proved to be a turning point, as the team struggled to find consistency with rookie Spencer Rattler at the helm.
The Saints’ subsequent losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers saw them outscored 110-45, highlighting the team’s inability to adapt without Carr. Allen’s tenure as head coach was marked by inconsistency, with the team failing to regain its early-season momentum.
Dennis Allen, 52, took over as Saints head coach before the 2022 season, replacing Sean Payton, who temporarily retired. Allen had previously served as Payton’s offensive coordinator for seven seasons. Unfortunately, his head-coaching stint in New Orleans ended with a lackluster 18-25 record. The Panthers celebrate the win. Getty Images
This is not Allen’s first experience with being let go as a head coach. His previous tenure with the Oakland Raiders ended similarly, with Allen being fired early in his third season after starting 0-4 in 2014. His overall record with the Raiders stood at 8-28.
The Saints will look to regroup under Rizzi’s leadership, starting with their upcoming game against the Falcons on Sunday. With the season hanging in the balance, the team seeks to rediscover its early-season form and salvage what has been a disappointing campaign. Keywords:
