The 2022 New Orleans Saints season marked the start of a murky post-Sean Payton reality. Dennis Allen stepped into the head coaching vacuum with expectations focused on maintaining NFC South dominance, but instead ran into a wall of offensive inconsistency and key injuries. New Orleans clawed their way to a 7-10 record, finishing a disappointing third in a profoundly mediocre division. The offseason addition of Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye aimed to fortify a proud defensive foundation, yet the roster ultimately lacked the cohesion to close out winnable games, missing the postseason.

Offensively, the Saints were caught in a persistent identity crisis, yielding a league rank of 22nd in points (19.4 ppg) and 19th in total yards. Jameis Winston opened the year under center but quickly bowed out due to injury after three starts, forcing veteran Andy Dalton into the lineup. Dalton provided stability, throwing for 2,871 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions across 14 starts, while utilizing Taysom Hill in his customary Swiss Army knife role. Rookie receiver Chris Olave was a bright spot, posting 1,042 yards, while Alvin Kamara fought through tough sledding to lead the ground game with 897 rushing yards.

While the offense sputtered, the defense remained the team's competitive anchor, finishing 9th in points allowed (20.3 ppg) and an exceptional 5th in total yards surrendered. The unit excelled against the pass, ranking 2nd in the league by allowing only 3,134 yards through the air. Demario Davis headlined the linebacking corps with 109 tackles and 6.5 sacks, while Cameron Jordan continued his elite edge play with 8.5 sacks. Rookie cornerback Alontae Taylor emerged down the stretch to aid a stingy secondary that choked off opposing throwing lanes all year, although they only managed 7 interceptions all year.

Crucial turning points define this frustrating campaign, starting with a disastrous five-turnover collapse against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 that started a three-game losing skid. They occasionally flashed potential, shut out the Las Vegas Raiders 24-0 in Week 8, but a late-game implosion against Tampa Bay in Week 13 cost them dearly. New Orleans rallied for a three-game winning streak late in the winter, punctuated by a signature defensive 20-10 victory over the eventual NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17.

A sluggish 7-10 record meant the Saints missed the playoffs, leaving the fan base staring at a transitional era. The franchise showed plenty of defensive grit but lacked the modern offensive spark required to thrive in the current NFL landscape. Individually, Chris Olave’s performance earned him a fourth-place finish in the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, providing a cornerstone piece for a franchise seeking its next great football era.