CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Initially, Dennis Allen felt a sense of optimism as the New Orleans Saints began their season with a 2-0 record. However, a disappointing seven-game losing streak, highlighted by a narrow 23-22 defeat against the struggling Carolina Panthers on Sunday, has led to rising concerns regarding his future as head coach.
In his first year with the Saints, Allen recorded a 7-10 finish, which slightly improved to a 9-8 record the following season. Despite these efforts, the Saints are on track for yet another playoff-less year under his leadership, leaving many to speculate about his job security. “I just think we’ve got to be better,” Allen expressed when questioned about his standing with the team.
When asked about his performance, Allen candidly admitted, “obviously, when you’re not winning, it’s hard to say you are. I’ve got to be better for our guys. … Here’s what I’ll say: I’m going to keep coming in every day and fighting my (butt) off just like I’ve done since I’ve been here.” The hopes of rejuvenation with the return of quarterback Derek Carr following a three-game absence were dashed as the Saints faltered against the Panthers, a team they had previously crushed 47-10 in their season opening. In that initial matchup, Carr threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns.
“We’ve got good leadership in the room,” Allen remarked, underscoring the need for improved performances from both the players and coaching staff. “We’ve got to do a better job playing, coaching and, hopefully, getting some guys healthy. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be a challenge. But going through adversity like this reveals character. The only option is to stand up and fight.” Carr’s performance upon his return was described by Allen as “rusty,” and despite having the lead late in the fourth quarter, the team was unable to secure the win. A pivotal fourth-and-4 attempt fell short when a pass intended for Cedrick Wilson was deflected.
Allen commented, “I didn’t see a lot of issues throughout the week in practice. But obviously games are different than practice. Our plan was to come in here and run the football. And we were able to do that. I don’t think we were able to get quite as much done in the passing game.” In a striking statistic, teams that had dominated their opponents by over 150 yards, along with achieving over 150 rushing yards and a winning turnover ratio, boasted an impressive 275-0 record over the past two decades. The Saints, however, have now become the exception, bringing that record to 275-1, despite a phenomenal performance from Alvin Kamara, who rushed for 155 yards and caught six passes for another 60 yards.
Expressing the team’s frustration, Carr remarked that players were left feeling upset and “baffled” by the loss. “We should be winning these football games and we’re not,” he said, acknowledging the emotional toll it takes on everyone involved. “For us, it’s hard to swallow and it’s hard to deal with. We have to keep picking each other up and keep moving forward. This one hurt. If I was our fans, I’d be (upset) right now, because we are too.”
As for Allen’s position, Carr made it clear that discussions surrounding job security lie beyond his control. “My job is to play quarterback, take care of the football and try to score touchdowns and put us in position to win football games,” Carr explained. “The one thing I’ve learned when that stuff happens is if you don’t have a tight group, it can go south real quick. You never as players want that to happen.” Reflecting on the gravity of Allen’s situation, he added, “to even think that could happen sucks. It’s the sucky part of this business and the sucky part of where we are right now.”