Saints' recent home woes have left New Orleans desperate to avoid a sixth straight lost season

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The color purple filling the Superdome's field-level stands near the visitors' sideline as time wound down in the New Orleans Saints' Week 5 loss to the Vikings was hard to miss.

So, too, were the visiting, red-clad fans triumphantly chanting, “A-T-L!” during the anticlimactic final minutes of a Monday night home loss to the rival Falcons in Week 4.

If the traveling Raiders fans were less noticeable in Week 3, it was only because they also wear black.

The Saints (1-4) will leave New Orleans this week on the heels of three deflating home losses that have transformed them from emerging hopefuls to win the NFC South into a team that looks increasingly desperate to avoid falling out of playoff contention for a sixth straight season.

“Losing the way we have lost these last three games is gut-wrenching,” said Saints first-year guard David Edwards, a high-profile acquisition in free agency who was expected to bring with him a winning mentality from his previous team, Buffalo.

“It sucks. The competitor in you wants to smash your face against the wall," Edwards added before stressing that, rather than inflict self-harm, the Saints instead should figure out how to move forward "in a way that’s constructive and positive and moving people together.”

After an overtime loss in Week 1 and a comeback victory at Baltimore in Week 2, the Saints were tied for the NFC South lead and a return to NFL relevance appeared possible.

Edwards stressed that those games provided hard evidence of the Saints' ability to play well when there is the requisite level of synergy, focus, discipline and effort across the roster and staff.

Without it, the Saints merely show flashes of potential amid a flurry of inconsistency that has resulted in a blown second-half lead against Las Vegas, followed by double-digit losses to Atlanta and Minnesota.

“Sometimes, you go through storms,” second-year Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “Inevitably, storms end. But we’re going through a little bit of one.”

“This is the NFL; no week's going to be easy,” Moore added. “Our guys got to keep sticking together, keep working, and I think we'll come out of this thing in a positive way.”

The Saints won't be back in the Superdome again until after Halloween. They can only hope their prospects for this season look a little less scary by then.

The Saints' defense ranks 11th in the NFL against the pass, allowing just 212 yards per game through the air. None of their first five opponents has passed for more than the Las Vegas Raiders' 227 yards against them in Week 3. However, opposing teams haven't had to play from behind very often and therefore haven't been pressed to abandon their running games.

The running game, which accounted for 55 yards against the Vikings. That was the third time in five games this season that the Saints have rushed for 65 or fewer yards, including just 50 in their lopsided Week 4 loss to Atlanta.

The offense as a whole struggled on Sunday, gaining just 142 yards — 156 yards less than any of its previous four games, and 327 yards less than in Week 1.

Moore, who designs and calls the offense, was quick on Monday to blame himself, primarily, for not mixing in enough play-action fakes or screens to counter opposing pass rushes.

“Obviously got to do a better job there,” Moore asserted grimly. “I have to create more opportunities to be in the play action and screen game."

Defensive end Carl Granderson returned from a one-game absence because of an ankle injury and had 1 1/2 sacks of Kyler Murray to go with two tackles for loss and two QB hurries.

Kicker Daniel Carlson, signed just before the start of the regular season, missed an extra point, after which Moore said: “We just got to look at that. Obviously, he missed an opportunity.” Carlson also has missed two field-goal attempts, albeit from 50 or more yards.

Kick returner Jayden Price, a 26-year-old, third-year pro out of North Dakota State who made his NFL regular-season debut this season, fumbled during a kickoff return to open the second half, leading to a go-ahead TD for Minnesota.

The Saints did not appear to have any significant injuries against Minnesota, but Shough's left, non-throwing hand appeared to be bothering him at times. The second-year quarterback declined to say whether his left hand was broken and asserted that the Week 4 injury has not hindered his ability to operate under center.

14 — The number of games the Saints have lost in the Superdome out of the 19 times they've played in their home stadium since Week 3 of the 2024 season.

The Saints travel to play the New York Giants (3-1-1), and then head directly from there to Paris, where they'll serve as the home team against Pittsburgh in the first NFL game played in France.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) passes while being pressured by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young gestures toward fans during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) walks toward the sideline after throwing an incomplete pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Drake Maye rediscovered his confidence and production in the Patriots’ dominant 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

And it has restored the belief that New England can compete with the AFC’s top teams this season.

It wasn’t just the third-year quarterbacks passing numbers – 26 of 34 for a season-high 374 yards and four touchdowns – that jumped off the page. It was the calm and deliberate way he commanded the offense that rang the loudest on a day in which he finished without a turnover for the first time this season.

Equally encouraging was that Maye left the field thinking there was even better football to be played.

“I think that’s what it’s like when we put some things together, and we still have some," he said. “I mean, it’s crazy to say we’ve still got some left to squeeze.”

It was also a good sign that Maye was able to get multiple players involved.

Playing without wide receivers A.J. Brown (injured reserve/sprained ankle) and Mack Hollins (injured reserve/calf), Maye spread the ball around to nine players.

But it wasn’t all smiles on the Patriots' sideline after running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) and left tackle Will Campbell (right knee) both left the field two plays apart.

It’s a particularly concerning injury for Campbell, who had to go on IR for four games late last season with a right knee injury before returning for the regular-season finale and playoff run.

This is also a recurring issue for Henderson after he dealt with an ankle injury in the preseason that caused him to miss the season opener against Seattle.

Campbell was replaced Sunday by rookie Caleb Lomu, who's expected to fill the role as Maye’s blindside protector for however long Campbell is out.

“I don’t think it was too big for him,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said of Lomu. “I think he was able to settle down. You didn’t really notice him a lot, so I think that’s probably a good thing.”

As well as the Patriots’ offense performed, the defense was just as solid. It limited a Raiders team that came in averaging 28.8 points per game to 5 of 13 on third down. The Patriots also forced a fumble and sacked Kirk Cousins twice. What’s more, New England never allowed the Raiders to get into a groove. After scoring a touchdown early in the first quarter, Las Vegas’ next four drives went: punt, punt, missed field goal and punt.

Discipline. The Patriots were called for a season-high 12 penalties for 116 yards, a total that Vrabel called “ridiculous” postgame. Even with several new combinations of players on the field because of injuries, those are numbers that must be addressed in a hurry.

WR Kyle Williams. The second-year receiver has been waiting to get more opportunities, and Maye linked up with him three times for 91 yards, including a 34-yard TD grab in the third quarter.

Secondary. Yes, the group was playing without starting cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) and Carlton Davis III (neck). But it had no answers for Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who finished with eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

The already injury-ravished secondary lost another player when cornerback Charles Woods exited in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.

1 — The number of Patriots quarterbacks (Maye) to complete at least 75% of their passes for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, along with a rushing touchdown in a single game.

The Patriots return to playing their AFC East rivals and host the New York Jets (2-3) on Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel celebrates his team's touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas (3) blows kisses to fans after his touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye smiles as he runs to congratulate a teammate after a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)