The New Orleans Saints faced a frustrating series of events in the first half against the Green Bay Packers, resulting in a clock management accident that wasted over 20 seconds of game time. By halftime, the Saints were scoreless and trailed 21-0, and interim head coach Darren Rizzi got so upset that he ripped off his headset and yelled at the officials before taking a more measured approach during his halftime interview.

Late in the second quarter, Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler connected on a deep pass to Kevin Austin for 17 yards, advancing the team to Green Bay’s 34-yard line. But confusion followed as the clock continued to run after the ball was fumbled out of bounds earlier in the play.

With precious seconds ticking away, Rizzi ripped off his headset and engaged in a heated exchange with officials on the sideline. The Saints were forced to burn a timeout with just 15 seconds remaining. After a following Packers timeout, the drive fell apart as Rattler was sacked for a 12-yard loss and failed to complete two passes. The Saints walked into the locker room with zero points on the board and just 100 yards of total offense, their frustrations compounded by a lack of discipline and execution.

ESPN NFL sideline reporter Lisa Salters asked the interim head coach about the meltdown to close out the half. “There was a miscommunication at the end of the half with the officials. [About] the clock and [where they] marked the ball. Just miscommunication,” Rizzi explained.

Shifting the focus to the bigger picture, he added, “I’m really more frustrated that we’re kinda stepping on our own feet. We’re beating ourselves right now. Couple of defensive offside penalties and backwards plays. We just have to right the ship here. We’ve been fighting and playing with passion all year. We have to do it in the second half.”

New Orleans converted just 2 of 6 third downs and failed to gain separation from the blanketing Green Bay secondary and aggressive man coverage led by Keisean Nicon and Carrington Valentine, who filled in for injured two-time Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander. Rizzi was upset that the Saints committed six first-half penalties, doubling the Packer’s two and highlighting his belief in the team’s self-destruction.

The Green Bay Packers recovered a fumble

Rizzi was upset with his time management and his team’s ball security ( 

Image:

GETTY)

The Saints’ first three offensive drives in the half resulted in two punts and a costly fumble. The Packers responded to two punts with touchdowns, but New Orleans struggled to establish any rhythm on either side of the ball.

New Orleans already lost the mathematical possibility of making the NFL playoffs before kickoff after the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New York Giants. They sit third in the NFC South behind the Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both 8-5, with just a one-win advantage over the 4-11 Carolina Panthers.