On January 9, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Atlanta Falcons to finish their 2021 season.
The victory capped a two-game win streak and the crew received 4 out in their ultimate 5.
In spite of their victory, and ultimate 9-8 file, the Los Angeles Rams misplaced to San Francisco in extra time at the similar day.
#Saints Did what they had to do in Atlanta, however because of the Rams, their 2021-2022 season is over. A loopy 12 months stuffed with accidents and shut video games, the Saints finish 9-8 and rarely pass over the playoffs. Who else nonetheless thinks Sean Payton merits to be within the COTY dialog?? #NFL percent.twitter.com/fqY9uWhrR9
— Jackson Grant (@Jaxadus) January 10, 2022
That ultimate tiebreaker supposed that the Saints must stay up for subsequent season.
Sadly for Saints fanatics, this used to be simplest a part of an differently depressing 12 months.
Retirements, Accidents, and Losses
2021 started with the retirement of longtime quarterback Drew Brees.
Drew Brees retires after 20 seasons within the NFL.
He’s the league’s all-time chief in passing yards, completions and of completion share. percent.twitter.com/eMvNy0QA6V
— ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 14, 2021
Brees got here to New Orleans in 2006 after 5 years with the San Diego Chargers.
Sooner than he arrived in Louisiana, the Saints had performed within the postseason simplest 5 occasions in crew historical past.
New Orleans would seem within the playoffs 9 occasions throughout Brees’ tenure with the group.
That run integrated a Tremendous Bowl XLIV victory in 2009.
In 2020, the Saints went 12-4, beat Chicago within the Wild Card spherical, then misplaced to Tampa Bay within the Divisional spherical.
On March 14, 2021, Brees introduced his retirement, precisely 15 years to the day that he signed with the franchise.
New Orleans had replacements for Brees already at the roster in Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, and Taysom Hill.
Winston beat out Siemian and Hill for the beginning position in coaching camp and started the 12 months taking part in neatly.
Then, throughout their Week 8 victory towards the Bucs, he went down with an ACL tear.
Jameis Winston tears ACL, will pass over rest of 2021 season https://t.co/yapcHSZt1h percent.twitter.com/QVAHwVQ4VZ
— Pretend Groups (@faketeams) November 1, 2021
Siemian took over and misplaced 4 immediately, adopted via Hill’s get started towards Dallas which used to be additionally a loss.
New Orleans in the end overlooked the postseason on account of their five-game skid, however the long term appeared excellent.
If the crew re-signed Winston this spring, and the crew reloaded in unfastened company and the draft, a go back to the playoffs in 2022 wasn’t out of the query.
That used to be till Tuesday when longtime Saints trainer Sean Payton introduced that he used to be stepping away from the franchise after 16 years.
Sean Payton proclaims he is stepping down as head trainer of the Saints. percent.twitter.com/9wsxHu6faE
— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2022
Payton and Brees were joined on the hip since 2006.
Payton helped broaden Brees in addition to a plethora of All-Execs and Professional Bowlers.
He used to be a Trainer of the Yr in 2006 and led the group to their victory in Tremendous Bowl XLIV.
Payton didn’t trainer the crew in 2012 because of NFL self-discipline for the Saints’ position in “Bountygate.”
He returned the next 12 months to steer New Orleans to a Divisional spherical loss to Seattle.
Payton’s general file in New Orleans is 152-89.
What’s Subsequent?
There’s indubitably about it.
Saints fanatics are in for a hard offseason.
If the group doesn’t re-sign Winston, they are going to have to handle the location in unfastened company or the draft.
Discovering a brand new trainer received’t be simple, despite the fact that there are a selection of excellent applicants to be had.
Barring some other Brees/Payton-style connection in 2022, Saints fanatics could have to attend a couple of years ahead of their crew gels and so they see the postseason once more.
2021 used to be a coarse 12 months for New Orleans.
It is going to simplest worsen.
