Dennis Allen's record against good teams has gotten even worse

It’s commonly held in the NFL that you are who your record says you are, and that doesn’t bode well for Dennis Allen. The New Orleans Saints head coach is now 2-9 against opponents who held winning records at kickoff. Since being hired back in 2022, Allen has notched just two wins against quality matchups.

And those two wins don’t look as impressive in hindsight. Allen’s Saints beat the Gardner Minshew-led Philadelphia Eagles late in 2022, and his second victory came against an overhyped Dallas Cowboys team that was 1-0 — and has since struggled to tread water at 3-3. Even the high-water marks of Allen’s tenure begin to fade with the passage of time.

Mickey Loomis has preached patience with his choice for Sean Payton’s successor, but time can’t be on Allen’s side. He’s 2-9 against winning teams, which suggests he’s been outfoxed and outcoached by too many opponents who knew what they were doing. But he’s only managed to stay afloat against vulnerable teams. Allen is 12-10 in games against teams who had fewer wins than losses. And when the opposing team had a tied record at .500? He’s just 4-3.

That’s why it’s tough to get too amped up for Thursday night’s game against Payton’s Broncos. A win or loss against a 3-3 team with a bad rookie quarterback doesn’t move the needle regardless of who’s coaching them. Bragging rights would be nice for whoever proves they don’t need the other (whether that’s the Saints or Payton himself), but the Saints have bigger fish to fry. Loomis has ensured a win or loss on Thursday night won’t cost Allen his job, but many fans have already seen enough to know the score. Just look at his record.