According to Rod Walker of The Times-Picayune, “owning the worst team in the NFL and the NBA at the same time isn’t a good look,” calling it “a new low for sports in New Orleans.”

Both of Gayle Benson’s franchises have been on the wrong side of blowouts. 

Within a few short hours that Sunday, the Pelicans were crushed 137–107 by the Thunder while the Saints fell 34–10 to the Rams.

But that was then.

One week later, the Saints finally showed signs of life, earning a much-needed 17–7 win over Carolina.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress, and for a team sitting near the bottom of the standings, the win was huge.

The win snapped a month-long drought for the Saints, who now sit at 2–8 entering their bye week.

It doesn’t erase the frustrations, but it helps quiet them, at least for now.

Meanwhile, things remain rough for the Pelicans, who sit at the very bottom of the Western Conference with 2-10 record.

Walker noted that fan frustration across both teams is “at an all-time high."

Per CBS, Benson’s franchises combined for only 26 wins last season. 

If both squads keep trending the way they’ve started, they could “smash that dubious mark,” as Walker put it.

Despite the criticism, Saints owner, Gayle Benson, is standing firmly behind her front-office leadership.

In an interview with The Times-Picayune, Benson called fan demands to fire general manager Mickey Loomis “ridiculous,” saying she holds him in “high esteem” and remains “pleased” with his work.

“It may not be what the fans want to hear,” Benson said, “but as far as firing Mickey Loomis, that’s ridiculous. He does a great job.” She added that Loomis “isn’t sitting around doing nothing. He’s losing sleep over all of this.”

Loomis has been under fire for months, blamed by some for years of declining results and questionable roster moves. At 68, he’s the longest-tenured GM in the league. And now in his 24th season, Loomis has overseen the most successful run in franchise history: seven division titles, nine playoff appearances, and the 2009 Super Bowl title. 

But Loomis also led over five straight seasons without a playoff spot.

Gayle Benson highlighted his past accomplishments, including the hiring of Sean Payton, the signing of Drew Brees, and the 2006 and 2017 draft classes.

Her message was pretty firm: the Saints’ struggles won’t shake her confidence in Mickey Loomis.

Still, the fan base is split.

Some believe the loyalty to Loomis has gone too far and that his influence has run its course.

Others see this as a rebuild finally taking shape: one that fans begged for during the last few years of the Drew Brees era.

One fan wrote online, it’s “crazy that people screamed for a rebuild for years, then want everyone fired now that it’s actually happening.”

Another commenter added that “scorched earth should be a last resort, not the first,” reminding everyone that this is a new coach, a new system, and a young roster finding its rhythm.

Of course, others disagree, calling the situation “a train wreck” and questioning how long fans should be patient with Loomis.

That sentiment echoes through social media, where a small but vocal group insists this kind of pain was always part of the plan.

They see the Saints’ 21 losses in their last 26 games as proof that change is overdue.

But the truth probably sits somewhere in the middle.

The Saints still have a long way to go, but Sunday’s win over Carolina showed what this rebuild could become when the young core finds its footing. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough continues to impress, and the team finally looked disciplined and prepared.

You can think Mickey Loomis has made mistakes. You can even believe Gayle Benson has been too loyal. And you can still be proud of Shough’s growth, the defense’s improvement, and the slow signs of a team learning to compete again.

New Orleans is a city that thrives on passion. That’s why fans care so deeply, why frustration runs so high, and why this moment feels so defining. Fans have every right to demand better. But if the win against Carolina proved anything, it’s that there’s still fight left in this franchise, and just maybe the tide is starting to turn.

Time will tell whether Benson’s loyalty to her leadership pays off or prolongs the pain.

For now, the Saints and Pelicans remain symbols of a city that refuses to stop caring, even when there’s little to cheer about.