McAllister tears ACL as dismal season gets worse

Deuce McAllister walks off after hurting his knee Monday night during a loss to the Titans. AP

MAILBAG Peter King will answer your questions each week in Monday Morning Quarterback: Tuesday Edition. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

NEW ORLEANS -- Loved one of the questions to Sean Payton at his funeral-like press conference late Monday night. "Coach, after three losses like this, is it time to panic?'' someone asked.

Sure looks like it's time to me. I mean, after preparation, practice and three lopsided losses, what's left except panic? Everything that worked for New Orleans last year -- a smart passing game, an efficient run game, and a defense that rose when it had to -- has been erased in 31-, 17- and 17-point losses. The last one was Tennessee's 31-14 whipping of the Saints in the Monday night home opener. And things only get worse now, with the likely loss of running back Deuce McAllister for the season. Payton told SI.com this morning McAllister likely has a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament, suffered when he jumped high to catch an errant Drew Brees throw early in the loss to Tennessee.

"It's baffling,'' defensive tackle Brian Young said. "Last year, so many things just seemed to go our way, game after game. This year's the opposite. But it's a long season. We've got to figure it out.''

It's about to be a very long season for the Saints. Five observations from the 'Dome Monday night:

1. It's no surprise the Saints are 0-3. The left side of their offense line -- tackle Jammal Brown and guard Jamar Nesbit -- got caved in all night by the Titans rush, and they weren't alone; the line is playing terrible football. The fans booed Brees several times in the second half while he was en route to a no-TD, four-interception performance. ("I never heard it,'' Brees said. Either he's a good liar or he was playing with earplugs.)

If you watched the game, you know his poor play was a direct result of running for his life for three hours. Plus Reggie Bush (2007: 29 carries, 80 yards, 2.8 yards per carry) is simply not an impact player in the pro game -- so far.

On defense, they're getting no pressure on the opposing quarterback. Three games, zero sacks. The only good thing for them is they're entering their bye week, which gives a smart coach such as Payton time to make a few changes to salvage something.

2. Can the Saints be the sixth team to rebound from an 0-3 start to make the playoffs? I'd be shocked.

3. If ever a crowd was begging to be taken on a magic-carpet ride, it was Monday night's throng of 70,002 at the Superdome. The place was deafening at the start, then was quieted by 19- and 13-yard Vince Young completions on the first two plays. The Saints didn't stop Young on any of the first three drives; a Young fumble (his own careless mistake, not Saints-forced) killed the first one, a field goal ended the second, and a Young TD pass to Brandon Jones capped the third. Every time the Saints got back in the game, the offense did nothing to keep it going in the right direction. Poor protection, awful run-blocking, poor decisions by Brees.

4. Tennessee's no fluke. Not at all. The team that gives Indianapolis fits (in their last 12 quarters, the Titans and Colts have played to an aggregate 53-53 tie) has a very manageable October schedule: Atlanta, at Tampa Bay, at Houston, Oakland. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tennessee 6-1 by Halloween.

5. America doesn't see enough of Keith Bulluck and Albert Haynesworth. What great players. Haynesworth threw around Nesbit like a rag doll on one play, and shoved left tackle Brown all the way back into Brees on another play. And Bulluck, aside from being a brutish run player, is an athletic player in coverage, as you saw during his career night Monday. He had three interceptions and three passes defensed.

"It will turn,'' Brees said bravely just before midnight here. "We're scratching our heads a little bit, but you just have to believe.''

Other than some 10-month-old memories, there's no reason to.

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