New Orleans Saints gift Dennis Allen the revenge game win he never deserved
In a season filled with frustrations, the New Orleans Saints had a chance for vindication this Sunday. They faced off with their former head coach, Dennis Allen, who is now the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears.
Instead of a satisfying victory, the Saints endured a brutal loss in which Allen's defense shone brighter than it has all season.
The meeting ended up being a revenge game for Allen, one that he didn't deserve to enjoy as much as he did.
Dennis Allen gets his revenge against Saints in Week 7
Allen was a decent coach for most of his time with the Saints. That is, he was a decent coach on the defensive side of the ball. While his defenses were consistently competitive, he was never able to put together a complete football team. He only posted a winning record once in his three seasons in charge and never made it to the postseason.
As a result, New Orleans moved on from him in favor of offensive guru Kellen Moore. While the jury is still out on Moore seven weeks into his tenure, nobody could question the decision to try something new.
Of course, Ben Johnson and the Bears quickly scooped Allen up as their DC. So far this season, his defense has struggled to keep up with opposing offenses. They're among the NFL's worst in both yards per game and points per game allowed.
This matchup between the Saints and the Bears should have been the final piece of evidence that moving on from the former head coach was the right decision. Instead, Allen got the last laugh as his defense dominated Spencer Rattler and the Saints.
New Orleans scored just 14 points on the day, losing by multiple scores in an ugly game. Rattler threw three interceptions and fumbled once. He was sacked four times, losing 24 total yards. The Saints put up just over 250 yards in the game, but they were unable to convert their opportunities into points. Allen's scheme held up against Moore's offense, as he seemed to be one step ahead throughout the game.
The loss is just one more blow to a New Orleans team that has had its fair share of frustrations this season. It's still difficult to argue that they should have kept Allen in the building, but there's no doubt that the former head coach got the last laugh today.
Ex-Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Faces Big Adversity In Raiders Debut
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett hoping that he could be the face of the franchise. At first, things started off reasonably well, as Pickett showed the promise of a young quarterback steadily improving. He frequently delivered in high-pressure situations, helping guide Pittsburgh on game-winning drives and earning the trust of coaches and teammates. Fans were optimistic that he could develop into a cornerstone of the Steelers’ offense.
However, after just two seasons, Pickett decided he wanted a fresh start, and the Steelers traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles. His time in Pittsburgh had been a mix of encouraging moments and growing pains, but the move marked the end of his tenure with the team that had drafted him. While he had flashes of brilliance, the fit ultimately wasn’t what either Pickett or the Steelers had hoped for in the long term.
Pickett is now with the Las Vegas Raiders, and on Sunday, late in the regular season game, he made his debut with his new team. The performance gave fans a first look at him in a Raiders uniform. However, it couldn't have started much worse for Pickett. He fumbled the snap right away, giving the football back to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pickett gave the ball away right when he got in the game, causing him to miss out on a potential drive. The Raiders’ starting quarterback, Geno Smith, signed a massive deal with the team in the 2025 offseason. However, he has struggled significantly to start the season. On Sunday, Smith played so poorly that the Raiders fell behind badly, prompting the team to put Pickett into the game.
When Pickett entered, he completed both of his passes for a total of eight yards. With the game already out of hand, he did not have much of a chance to show what he could do. Still, his brief appearance has sparked conversation about what the Raiders might do at quarterback moving forward.
It does not appear that Smith will be benched, despite his struggles, but his poor play has put Pickett’s name back into the discussion. Fans and analysts may start to wonder if he could get a larger opportunity as the season continues. It will be interesting to see how the Raiders handle their quarterback situation in the coming weeks.
With so much money committed to Smith and Pete Carroll’s strong faith in him, it is hard to believe he will be benched. However, anything is possible when you are playing as poorly as he has.
Steelers' Former First-Round Pick In Kenny Pickett Fumbles In Raiders Debut
Any time a player gets an opportunity to enter a game as a backup, it is never ideal to start with a turnover. That could not have been easy for Pickett, but it was adversity he had to face and overcome.
The fumble will not help his case as he tries to challenge a struggling veteran quarterback in Smith, but it is a moment that tests a player’s resilience and poise under pressure. Pickett surely would have wished his first drive had gone much differently, but with Smith struggling, he now has a chance to earn more opportunities moving forward.
Pickett will be working extra hard in practice as he tries to take advantage of any opportunity moving forward. Steelers fans will continue to follow along his journey.
