Saints Coaches Under Fire For Clock Management Mistake Vs. Packers

New Orleans coaches didn't realize seconds were melting away before calling a timeout before halftime against Green Bay.

Dec 23, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Darren Rizzi argues with referee Alex Kemp (55) during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The New Orleans Saints coaches (on the sidelines and in the sky box) didn't realize seconds were melting away without calling a timeout before halftime against Green Bay.

New Orleans hoped to score points before halftime while trailing 21-0 and moving into scoring position. Kevin Austin Jr. caught a Spencer Rattler pass and fumbled it out of bounds. According to interim head coach Darren Rizzi, the referees momentarily stopped the clock but determined it was a forward fumble.

The Saints' clock management received plenty of adverse social media reactions from fans and media.

Darren Rizzi making Anthonio Pierce look like Andy Reid with this clock management

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) December 24, 2024

Saints' failure to score on that drive with the clock management and sack was somehow their lowest point of this night yet.

— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) December 24, 2024

Rizzi's explanation:

"If you go back and watch the play, both covering officials ruled the ball. The clock stopped. I had asked the official, recovering official, if the clock was going to remain stopped. I got a "Yes," and I turned back, talked to the offensive coaches, and kind of talked about our plan there and what we were going to do there at the end of the half. Then they decided that he fumbled the ball forward, and it just wasn't communicated to me that the clock had restarted. So we lost some precious, valuable time there. So that's what happened."

No one on the Saints sidelines noticed that nearly 31 seconds ran off the clock before interim head coach Darren Rizzi called a timeout. He unsuccessfully challenged the officials to add more time to the clock.

Rattler was sacked on the following play, taking New Orleans out of field goal position.

The Saints lost 34-0 to the Packers, falling to 5-10 on the season.

More razzing of Rizz:

Coaches don't know the rules?

— Gregory Schenck (@easygreg33) December 24, 2024

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Saints wasted over 20 seconds because they didn't expect the clock to run after they fumbled out of bounds 😅

Darren Rizzi is NOT happy pic.twitter.com/0yqWvoaPxn

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 24, 2024

SIT DOWWWNNNN!! #Packers all over #Saints as NO has had bad clock management to end the half as it's all GB who looks to keep the gas pedal pressed down in the 2nd half! #NOvsGB #GoPackGo #PackersNation #MNF #MNFxESPN #MondayNightFootball pic.twitter.com/RoB0hF4AEC

— Brandon (@bampac29) December 24, 2024

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