The Saints have lost close games thanks in large part to special teams miscues two weeks in a row, and coach Sean Payton is fed up.
Payton said after Thursday night’s loss to the Panthers, which included a blocked field goal that set up a Carolina touchdown, that he needs to look at what is happening on special teams.
“The sequence, the blocked field goal, that’s a 10 point swing. Two weeks in a row now we are struggling just to kick a PAT or a field goal, it’s disappointing,” Payton said.
Last week the Saints lost to the Broncos when what could have been a game-winning extra point was blocked and returned for two points by Denver. Payton said the Saints will be looking at whether they need to make changes to their special teams personnel.
“We have a long break here and take a look at it all,” Payton said. “Fundamentally we have to be able to kick an extra point. If we come up short we have to be able to kick a field goal that’s a makable one. We have just struggled in that area. It cost us in New York, it cost us last week in Denver and it cost us again tonight.”
In the tight NFC South, special teams might cost the Saints a playoff berth.