The New Orleans Saints entered their matchup against the Chicago Bears hoping for their second win of the season.

Instead, the Saints walked away with another frustrating loss that exposed the same issues that have plagued them all year.

With the offense still searching for identity and consistency, New Orleans missed a real opportunity to shift momentum. What was supposed to be a statement game against the Bears turned into another reminder of why this team continues to struggle.

Missed Chances 

In their lone win of the season, a 26–14 victory over the New York Giants, New Orleans played with balance, forcing five takeaways and dominating time of possession.

When the offense sustains drives and keeps the defense fresh, the entire team’s energy changes. Spencer Rattler completed over 76% of his passes in Week 6, but his drives have too often stalled in the red zone, and against Chicago was no exception.

The Saints failed to control the game early, and it showed. Red zone had inefficiencies, penalties killed momentum, and the offense never found rhythm. Spencer Rattler completed a solid percentage of his passes, but too often the plays came up short of the sticks.

Third-Down Inefficiency Continues

New Orleans’ biggest issue this season has been converting when it matters.

In their 24-10 loss to the New England Patriots, the Saints converted only three of nine third-down attempts and were penalized eight times for 67 yards.

Against Chicago, third-down inefficiency once again defined the day. New Orleans converted far too few opportunities to sustain drives, putting added pressure on a defense that had little time to recover.

It was a familiar pattern: flashes of promise followed by costly mistakes.

Defensive Effort Falls Short

The Saints’ defense had been the one reliable aspect early in the season, but against Chicago, that edge faded.

The unit gave up multiple chunk plays and struggled to get off the field on third down. Missed tackles and blown coverages opened the door for a Bears offense that has grown more confident in recent weeks.

New Orleans failed to generate the kind of pressure that forces turnovers or shifts momentum. Without takeaways, the defense was left reacting instead of dictating.

Big Plays Leak Out: Offensive Line and Play Calling Continue to Hurt

New Orleans’ offensive line has been inconsistent at best, allowing frequent pressure that disrupts rhythm and timing.

In the loss to the Patriots, Rattler threw for 227 yards, but couldn’t find the end zone through the air. The lone Saints' touchdown came from Taysom Hill on the ground.

Yesterday, protection issues once again limited their ability to push the ball downfield.

The offensive line struggled to keep Rattler upright, forcing the team into predictable short-yardage plays. Even when opportunities were there, the offense lacked rhythm and creativity.

The Bears’ front seven capitalized on every breakdown, disrupting timing and making New Orleans one-dimensional.

Running Out of Excuses

This game was supposed to be a turning point, a chance for the Saints to show they could respond to adversity.

Instead, it felt like déjà vu.

The same problems that defined New Orleans' 1–5 start returned: poor execution, penalties, and inconsistency in key moments.

The Saints don’t lack talent; they lack cohesion, composure, and accountability.

Until those pieces come together, every Sunday will look a lot like this one: close enough to believe, but far enough to remind everyone how far they still have to go.