3 days Ago
New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi, right, and the Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, meet after the game in at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.
com ) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The last seven weeks have been an audition for Darren Rizzi . Interim coaches aren't hired for the full-time gig very often, but since taking over for Dennis Allen nearly two months ago, Rizzi has had an extended stretch to show the New Orleans Saints he's up for the job after this season. But Sunday's 25-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders marked the second straight game in which the Saints suffered a humiliating defeat.
And the game also dropped him to under .500 (3-4) in his tenure. Is he worried that his chances at keeping the job have dwindled? “I really don’t look at it like that," Rizzi said.
"Maybe from an outside perspective, you guys look at it like that, and you’re right. I can’t concern myself with that right now. I have to coach this last week, take a step back and then evaluate the whole thing.
"The powers to be will evaluate the whole thing, and we will go from there. I can’t be overly concerned with that. I’m concerned about the guys in the locker room.
That’s what I’m concerned about. I’m pissed off. I’m upset for them.
” In the aftermath of taking over for Allen, Rizzi had instituted changes throughout the Saints and they appeared to be working. New Orleans won three of its first four games under its new coach. But the Saints have cooled off, losing three straight.
They were shutout in last week's 34-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers and on Sunday, they lost to a team that entered the afternoon just 3-12. Rizzi was previously considered for the Saints' last coaching vacancy in 2022 when he interviewed for the job that ultimately went to Allen. General manager Mickey Loomis said in a radio interview that the Saints wouldn't gear up until the end of the season.
"Our execution just hasn’t been good enough," Rizzi said Sunday. "It’s frustrating, and it’s hard for me to see the players. That’s the most frustrating thing for me.
Those guys are obviously the ones I care about the most. That’s the most frustrating part, but we’ve got one left. We have to find a way to respond and be better.
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