3 Saints to blame after deflating loss to Packers

Mickey Loomis

Mickey Loomis traded Will Lutz to the Denver Broncos just before the season started. In exchange, the Saints got a 2024 second-round pick and Blake Grupe was elevated to the starting kicker role.

Grupe, with an opportunity to get the Saints the lead with less than two minutes remaining, missed a 45-yard field goal. It solidified the loss.

Certainly, it's a kick Lutz may have missed, too. He has yet to attempt a kick in the 40-49 yard range this year, in preseason or the regular season. Historically, though, Lutz is a good kicker who has made clutch kicks. He is 56-of-68 from 40-49 yards, and 73-of-98 of all kicks 40 yards or more.

It might be unfair, but the trade that didn't make sense when it was made makes far less sense when the Saints lose a one-point game in large part due to a late missed kick. It's easy to theorize a story where the Saints win this one if Lutz is still on the squad.

Instead, Lutz is getting a 70-burger put on his team in Miami.