We’d say that the New Orleans Saints had a disastrous start in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, but that may be too kind a description.
The Lions marched down the field after receiving the opening kickoff and scored a touchdown, going 80 yards in seven plays. Derek Carr then threw an interception on New Orleans’ first offensive play. Three plays later, Detroit was back in the end zone. The Saints went three-and-out on their next possession and things got no better.
New Orleans offered little resistance. On the third play of the drive, Saints linebacker Zack Baun found himself matched up against Detroit’s Star receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown. That went about as well as anyone would expect, with Jared Goff finding an open St. Brown over the middle. The receiver then cruised into the end zone for a touchdown.
The Lions are up 21-0 in the first quarter in New Orleans! 🏈🦁pic.twitter.com/zyfFJGBR2v
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 3, 2023
It’s hard to imagine a team having a worse start to a game. Not even halfway into the first quarter, the Saints faced a 21-0 deficit. And the abysmal start got a lot of attention among football fans on Sunday afternoon.
I remember when the Saints believed that Derek Carr was going to solve every single issue the team had.
It's not like terrible coaching and an aging, injury-prone roster were the real concerns or anything.
But yes, they needed a more expensive version of Andy Dalton.
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) December 3, 2023
The Saints defense trying to stop the Lions today pic.twitter.com/bqfj3wGhBL
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) December 3, 2023
This Saints team looks like a team that quit. That's what my eyes are telling me.
The Dennis Allen "error" is over.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) December 3, 2023
How the Lions got the Saints right now pic.twitter.com/6IOaM4A1YL
— Da Boot (@DaBootTragedies) December 3, 2023
Derek Carr walking out to lead another Saints drive today pic.twitter.com/SojPloXPmR
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) December 3, 2023
The #Saints have quit on Dennis Allen.
Fire him tomorrow.
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) December 3, 2023
This looks like yet another example of this #Saints team not being ready to start the game. Call it execution all anyone wants, this is a coaching issue.
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) December 3, 2023
I'm sorry, this is just hilarious. What a horrible start to the game for the #Saints.
— RevDeuce (@RevDeuceWindham) December 3, 2023
Things for the Saints did somewhat stabilize after that. The Lions were forced to punt on each of the ensuing two possessions and New Orleans found the end zone early in the second quarter. But regardless of how things end up, it’s hard to imagine a team having a much worse start to a game than the Saints experienced.
