'Cursed' NFL team struck down by voodoo as broken hearted 'Aints' lob paper bags over their heads

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. And fans reached for the paper bags after the beating from the Broncos. The tactic was commonplace for hard-up supporters before the Brees/Payton era. But the band has stopped marching in the Crescent City with head coach Dennis Allen in the firing line.

And superstar running back Alvin Kamara, always one to say it straight, issued a damning verdict with his team on the ropes as he excused punters for heading for the exits early. He said: "I’ve been here 8 years and I’ve never seen the Dome clear out like that. And I can’t blame them. They’re fed up.”

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