Since they hired Dennis Allen in 2022, the Saints are the only team in the NFL with a positive point differential (+80) but a losing record (18-22)
Of the 13 teams with a positive point differential, 12 made the playoffs at least once. 8 got there twice. Saints are the outlier.
— John Sigler (@john_siglerr) October 14, 2024
The New Orleans Saints’ start to the 2024 season looked exceptionally good, as they scored 91 points and had a +62 point differential through two weeks, which is outstanding. The difference in points scored and points allowed is one of the NFL’s most important stats and indicators of success.
But now after Week 6 has concluded, they sit at 2-4 with 167 total points (19 PPG during that span of four weeks) and are down to a +20 point differential. This has somewhat been the case with Dennis Allen and his teams over the course of his two prior seasons with the Saints.
Since Allen was hired in 2022, they are the only team with a positive point differential but also a losing record. During that span they have a +80 point differential and an 18-22 record. Additionally, of the 13 teams with a positive point differential during that span, 12 made the playoffs at least once, and eight made it twice, with the Saints being the only team to miss out.
This indicates that the Saints win big when they win and lose small when they lose, but it also means they lose the large majority of their games in close matchups, which indicates a failure to close out games in the late stages. That has certainly been one of the biggest criticisms of this Saints team ever since Sean Payton left, and more importantly, Drew Brees.