NO decided to punt to LAC from the LAC 47 on 4th & 1 with 11:23 remaining in the 1st while tied 0 to 0.
With a Surrender Index of 8.96, this punt ranks at the 95th percentile of cowardly punts of the 2024 season, and the 91st percentile of all punts since 1999.
— Surrender Index 90 (@surrender_idx90) October 27, 2024
New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen has made history in yet another bad way, making the decision to kick one of the most cowardly punts since the last century.
Allen and the Saints decided to punt from the Los Angeles Chargers 47-yard line on fourth down with one yard to go. There were just over 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter while the two team were scoreless.
According to the Surrender Index, an advanced stat which contextualizes decisions to punt for down, distance, and other factors, this decision by the head coach earns an 8.96. That put it within the 95th percentile of the most cowardly punts of the 2024 season and inside the 91st percentile of all punts since 1999.
Yes, over two whole decades ago. It’s clear the Saints need to be more aggressive and sensible in situations like this, but that is just one of many things that have come to light to need fixing over recent weeks. They went into this game at 2-5 and will need every advantage to string wins together and salvage this season.
