(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
He is not sure of the year, maybe 2007 or 2008, but New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton sought some advice from then-Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid.
Here was the issue: Payton's first three New Orleans teams each lost when coming out of a bye week.
The Saints were 5-1 when they headed into the bye in 2006, Payton's first season. They trailed the Ravens 28-7 at halftime in their first game after the bye, eventually losing that game 35-22.
A John Kasay kick split the uprights as time expired to hand the Saints a loss following their 2007 bye, a game in which New Orleans did not score a touchdown against the division rival Panthers.
The Saints had a chance to make a game of it late the next year at Atlanta, but two Drew Brees passes were intercepted near the Falcons goal line in the fourth quarter (one of which was returned for a 95-yard score) and they lost 34-20. ...
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