Dennis Allen, the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, has firmly defended his team’s style of play following accusations from the Philadelphia Eagles that the Saints played dirty during their recent game.
In the aftermath of the Eagles’ 15-12 victory, which saw several Philadelphia players sustain injuries, tensions rose between the teams.
Addressing the allegations, Allen stated, “I’d say our guys play extremely hard and we’re going to compete until the down is over.” He emphasized that the Saints do not engage in dirty play, noting, “It’s not the way we coach it, not the way we teach it.” While acknowledging the physical nature of the sport, he expressed that injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, insisting, “No, we don’t play dirty. We don’t coach dirty, but we do play hard and we do play physical.” This statement underscores his commitment to maintaining a competitive yet fair approach on the field.
The Philadelphia Eagles raised serious concerns about a hit delivered by Saints defenders Payton Turner and Khristian Boyd on wide receiver DeVonta Smith during their recent matchup. After making a reception, Smith took a hard hit that knocked his helmet off, leading to his exit from the game and subsequent placement in concussion protocol. Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a former Saint, criticized the play, calling it “the dirtiest shit I ever saw in football, bro.”
Additionally, Saints right tackle Trevor Penning was penalized for unnecessary roughness after an aggressive block on Eagles safety Darius Slay that sent him into the sideline benches. In response to these incidents, Allen acknowledged the need for awareness on the field, stating, “We can’t have that… You’ve got to have some awareness of where you’re at on the field. That could’ve been a really costly penalty. I love the aggressiveness, but at the same time, we can’t hurt the team.” This indicates Allen’s recognition of the importance of maintaining a balance between playing aggressively and ensuring the safety of players, both on his team and the opposing team.
Following their loss, the New Orleans Saints fell to 2-1 for the season, while C.J. Gardner-Johnson didn’t hold back, labeling the Saints as “pretenders.” This statement adds another layer of tension between the two teams and raises the stakes for any potential rematch.
If the Saints and Eagles both secure playoff spots, a postseason meeting could be highly charged, with both sides likely looking to settle the score. The earlier incidents, along with Gardner-Johnson’s comments, suggest that any future matchup could be intense, making it a game to watch as the season progresses.
