METAIRIE, La. -- Sean Payton has long preached the importance of November -- a time when the NFL’s contenders separate from the pack.
Instead this year, the New Orleans Saints (4-7) removed themselves from the pack.
Sunday’s ugly 24-6 dud at Houston capped the Saints' worst three-game stretch of the season. Now they have virtually been eliminated from playoff contention with five weeks remaining.
“So now, as tough a pill as it is to swallow yesterday -- and it’s tough for every one of us -- by the time tomorrow comes around we’ve gotta get ourselves back up off the mat and prepare for a real good football team that’s coming in here,” Payton said of Sunday’s upcoming home date against the 11-0 Carolina Panthers.