Latest Dennis Allen News
Saints hope to ride the Rizzi factor back to relevance after their bye week
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Darren Rizzi would be an unconventional choice to take over the New Orleans Saints' head coaching job on a permanent basis. That doesn't mean it can't happen. The Saints (4-7) had been on a seven-game skid when Rizzi, the club's special teams...
Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi is seeing his emphasis on closing out games paying off
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi jokes that he's started to resemble the cartoon character “Bob the Builder” during team meetings. That's because in the two weeks since taking over as interim coach, he's been using construction equipment — shovels, hard...
Ex-Saints QB Jameis Winston returns to New Orleans with the Browns
Cleveland (2-7) at New Orleans (3-7) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox. BetMGM NFL Odds: Saints by 1. Against the spread: Browns 3-6; Saints 4-6. Series record: Browns lead 13-6. Last meeting: Saints won 17-10 at Cleveland on Dec. 24,...
Jameis Winston invades the place he called home the past 4 years when the Browns play the Saints
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jameis Winston's four-year stint in New Orleans was a story of unfulfilled promise. On Sunday, he'll have an opportunity to make Superdome spectators wonder if the Saints gave up on him too soon. In his first season since leaving the Big Easy...
With losing streak over, interim Saints coach Darren Rizzi hopes to keep challenging his team
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi figured one way to help New Orleans overcome its seven-game skid was to think about anything but the losing streak itself. So Rizzi's messaging revolved around the idea that with a new regime comes a “fresh start.” ...
Uncharacteristic and untimely struggles doomed the Falcons against the Saints
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo held his hands to his helmet when his would-be tying field goal banged off the right upright with 6 1/2 minutes remaining against a Saints team that hadn't won a game since September. His frustration — and disbelief —...
Nobody beats the Rizz: Saints top Falcons 20-17 to snap 7-game skid in coach Darren Rizzi's debut
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Before interim New Orleans Saints coach Darren Rizzi disappeared down a tunnel toward the locker room, he paused, holding his gold, team-issued hat high above his head, and acknowledged fans still celebrating his triumphant debut in the Superdome. Marquez...
Fans flood @Pontifex account after it inadvertently cites New Orleans Saints amid dreadful season
ROME (AP) — The New Orleans Saints may be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, but at least they can count on continued prayers from Pope Francis. The pope – or at least someone in the Vatican communications office – has been inadvertently rooting for the Saints since...
First-place Falcons expect the Saints to be motivated by a coaching change
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Kirk Cousins and the first-place Falcons don't hesitate to list the pitfalls of overlooking the last-place New Orleans Saints. The Falcons needed a last-second field goal to win the previous meeting in Atlanta in Week 4 and now face a Saints squad that is trying...
First-place Falcons aim to sweep their season series with the reeling Saints
Atlanta (6-3) at New Orleans (2-7) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox. BetMGM NFL odds: Falcons by 3 1/2. Series record: Falcons lead 56-55. Against the spread: Falcons 5-4, Saints 3-6. Last meeting: Falcons beat Saints 26-24 on Sept....
