Saints three and out for Oct. 29, 2012

What we learned

We’ve known this for a while, but the Saints’ defense is struggling. They allowed more than 400 yards for the seventh straight game with the Broncos piling up 530 on Sunday night. At least the Saints were consistent in giving up 265 yards in each half.

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While the defense will get its share of criticism for this one, and rightfully so, the offense didn’t help out — especially on third down. After leading the league in third-down conversions a year ago, the Saints were abysmal in going just 1-of-12 on Sunday night.

Final thoughts

While they have only nine games left, it’s going to be a long two months to season’s end. But it only gets tougher from here for the Saints, whose next six-game stretch includes two games with the unbeaten Falcons and one each against the 49ers and New York Giants.

Sheldon Mickles