NFL power rankings: Where do Saints sit after 3-game losing skid?

“Now that they’ve once again paid part-time QB Taysom Hill, isn’t it maybe time to play him behind center, too, given team is 0-3 with Trevor Siemian as the starter?”

“The Saints could be missing QB Jameis Winston more than some might’ve thought after his season ended. RB Alvin Kamara needs to return in the worst way as well. But New Orleans’ defense really let them down vs. the Eagles. Philadelphia put up 40 points, riding the rushing attack.”

“Most memorable Thanksgiving game: Saints defeat Falcons 31-17 on Nov. 22, 2018

The Saints actually have three good options here, because they’re 3-0 all time on Thanksgiving — including Malcolm Jenkins’ forced fumble at Dallas in 2010 and Cameron Jordan’s four sacks and Shy Tuttle’s stiff-arm at Atlanta in 2019. But I’ll go with their only home victory on Thanksgiving night, when they got to feast in front of the home crowd against their biggest rivals. This game capped a 10-game win streak for New Orleans at the time, and Drew Brees became the first QB in NFL history to throw touchdown passes to four different undrafted players.”

“The Saints are now winless in three straight games since Jameis Winston‘s exit with a season-ending knee injury, and injuries across the roster have turned Sean Payton’s team ordinary and vulnerable. New Orleans played without running back Alvin Kamara and tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk on Sunday, paying the price in an ugly 40-29 loss to the Eagles. Trevor Siemian threw two gross interceptions — one returned for a score — and did most of his producing after the game was out of hand. Could Payton turn the starting job over to Taysom Hill? The team needs a spark, something Hill has been known to provide.”

“The Saints are regressing to the mean after overachieving under Sean Payton. They are missing Jameis Winston more than expected and this version of the offense isn’t the same when Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill don’t get key touches. The run defense has to get well soon, too.”

“They’ve lost three straight games to fall to 5-5. Their Thursday night game against the Bills will be a real challenge as they try to get it turned around.”

“The Saints decided to not really use Taysom Hill after starting quarterback Jameis Winston was done for the season, but still gave Hill a contract extension that will reportedly pay between $40 million and $95 million depending which position he plays, with $22.5 million guaranteed. There are some salary-cap gymnastics going on there, but no, I don’t get the move either.”

“After starting the season as a primarily pass-first squad (and not having much success with it), Philly has morphed into one of the league’s most run-centric teams. With the recently returned Miles Sanders leading the way, the Eagles ground game beat up on a good Saints defense in a 40-29 win on Sunday, finishing the day with 242 rushing yards on a whopping 50 (!!) attempts.”

“Despite not having wide receiver Michael Thomas, the New Orleans Saints were able to keep winning.

In spite of quarterback Jameis Winston suffering a season-ending injury, the Saints were able to keep winning.

Despite running back Alvin Kamara being on the shelf the last two games, the Saints have….

Yeah, they aren’t winning much of late.

Sunday’s lopsided loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was team’s third straight setback. And it wasn’t pretty. Offensively, a sloppy Saints offense turned the ball over three times. Defensively, New Orleans’ top-ranked run defense was gouged for a jaw-dropping 242 yards on the ground and let the Eagles convert 12 of 21 third downs.

If the season ended today, the Saints would be the seventh and final playoff team in the NFC. But given how the team is playing, hanging on to that spot may be a tall ask. On Thanksgiving night, the Saints host a Buffalo Bills team likely seething about getting blown out by the Colts before a second straight Thursday nighter against a similarly angry Dallas Cowboys team.

It’s hard to imagine the Saints we watched in Philadelphia on Sunday winning either of those games.”

“It’s not all his fault, but the Saints are 0–3 since Trevor Siemian stepped into the lineup. They might feel like they need Taysom Hill as an offensive weapon more than a quarterback right now due to all their injury woes, but really they just need a new offensive identity.”