Saints Suffer First Loss to Eagles 15-12

The New Orleans Saints suffered a disappointing 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, revealing weaknesses that raised questions about their status as NFC contenders. Despite a strong start to the season, the Saints struggled offensively, with quarterback Derek Carr throwing for under 200 yards and the team managing only 89 rushing yards. Former Saints player Zack Baun had a standout performance for the Eagles, leading all defenders with 13 tackles and contributing significantly to limiting the Saints' offensive output. The defeat coincided with a perceived lack of grit from the Saints, as they failed to capitalize on defensive takeaways and struggled on third downs. Head coach Nick Sirianni's decision to go for a fourth down instead of taking points before halftime became a focal point of critique for the Eagles. Moving forward, the Saints will need to regroup quickly as they face a tough schedule ahead, including divisional rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week.