NEW ORLEANS — Dennis Allen didn’t get fired for being a bad guy, but apparently there was something going on leading back to the head coach. How else can anyone explain New Orleans’ 20-17 win over Atlanta on Sunday at Caesar’s Superdome?
We may have an idea after Darren Rizzi what was the major problem, though.
As they usually are, a lot of head-scratching goes on in these situations. Usually, nobody knows for certain what goes on with this and it occasionally comes together like it did for the Saints against the Falcons. It may be something simple or more. When you put together the little bits and pieces, though, Allen simply sounds like a guy who couldn’t see the forest for the trees in the way.
With a body of work of just one game, though, it looks like Rizzi does have that view. Somehow, I find it hard to believe he would have ever gotten the job if New Orleans’ management and ownership thought he was a complete idiot. These days that’s reserved for political candidates. And, no, Rizzi has the “interim” tag in front of his title because a single win shouldn’t be the resume for the job full time.
“What an unbelievable week. Today doesn’t happen without complete buy-in.”
Interim HC Darren Rizzi’s opening statement pic.twitter.com/lMwRCwn5Lq
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 10, 2024
“The buy-in, the execution, the preparation … nothing substitutes for good preparation,” Rizzi said later. He was the special teams coach and those guys are either incredible young (he’s not) or have learned a lot of things. “We won the game because all three phases had great preparation and we went out and executed.”
Let’s not get carried away with that, though. It’s not a cause to start planning for the playoffs, but it was a refreshing change for fans who have suffered for weeks. Nobody was surprised when Allen was replaced Monday. Even blind people could see that one coming.
On a day when Saints running back Alvin Kamara became the club’s all-time leading rusher, it was a positive to give the new coach a positive start. Rizzi is probably just focused on the next week against the Cleveland Browns at noon.
But until Tuesday morning, everyone can enjoy talking about a win.
Rizzin to a #Saints win 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7STR5EF579
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 10, 2024