The future is now for the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints.
Both teams are entering Sunday’s game in the Superdome trying to make the most of a tough season by figuring out who they want to keep and who should go.
The Raiders (3-12) were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago during a 10-game losing streak that finally ended last weekend. The Saints (5-10) stayed alive in the playoff race — though only mathematically — until last Sunday, the day before their 34-0 loss at Green Bay.
“Naturally, it’s disappointing,” said Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi. “When the guys walk through the door here every day, you still expect them to be professional, accountable, come in with a great attitude, work hard and give back to the fans.”
Both the Raiders and quarterback Aiden O’Connell are taking a similar approach to this otherwise unimportant part of the season.
“You’re trying your best each week to put your best foot forward,” O’Connell said. “I definitely don’t take it for granted because I know how easily it can be taken away. And so, just being grateful to be able to play in the NFL, get to live out a dream, is just me, personally, kind of how I view it.”
Both teams were 2-2 in September, but things quickly fell apart for both squads.
The Raiders went almost three months without a win before their victory against Jacksonville last Sunday.
The Saints lost seven straight after starting 2-0, and their Week 9 loss at Carolina led to the firing of third-year coach Dennis Allen.
Under Rizzi, New Orleans has gone 3-3. Rizzi believes that NFL players must stay focused on their careers, even when their teams aren’t in the playoff race.
“When someone puts the film on and watches this week’s game against the Raiders, there’s not a footnote at the bottom that says: ‘These are the circumstances,’” Rizzi said. “That’s their body of work. That’s their professional resume.”
