Saints head coach Dennis Allen should be in a must-win situation in Week 9.
New Orleans (2-6), riding a six-game losing streak, has a perfect opportunity to get back into the win column this Sunday on the road against the Carolina Panthers (1-7).
If it doesn’t, Allen might be better off skipping the flight back to New Orleans.
The Saints are far removed from their blistering 2-0 start when they outscored the Panthers and Cowboys by a combined score of 91-29.
Over their last six games, the Saints have been outscored 177-94, with four consecutive double-digit losses.
Injuries have hit New Orleans hard. In Week 3, it lost center Erik McCoy to a groin injury against the Eagles, and the offense fell apart immediately afterward.
Utility offensive weapon Taysom Hill missed four games, wide receiver Chris Olave missed one game due to a concussion and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) was lost for the season in Week 6.
Quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) missed the past three games but had a promising throwing session on Monday and could start against Carolina.