Cursed National Football League side New Orleans Saints have been struck by a series of unfortunate events that has left their season in tatters.
The former moribund franchise, who rose to prominence post-Katrina in 2006 as the head coach and quarterback combination of Sean Payton and Drew Brees sparked a winning era, are back in the doldrums.
And both were inside the Superdome on Thursday night as Brees was inducted into the Saints hall of fame. Payton – now coaching the opposition Denver Broncos – killed the hosts with kindness as he saluted his legendary passers before dishing out a lopsided 36-10 shellacking on the Saints.
New Orleans – loses of five consecutive games – are in the midst of a horrific injury run with 20 contributors on the sidelines and their offensive line decimated by injury.