Dennis Allen explains Saints’ bizarre timeout decision

Dec 19, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen serves as head coach as Sean Payton has Covid-19 during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints were roasted for a bizarre timeout they took at the end of the first half of Thursday’s 33-10 loss to the Denver Broncos at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La. One day later, their coach offered an explanation, albeit one that did not make a lot of sense.

The Saints confused virtually everyone by calling timeout with five seconds left in the first half deep in their own territory, only to have Spencer Rattler take a knee on the next play. To many, it was indicative of how much of a mess the team was in a blowout home loss, and the coach was blasted for it at halftime by Prime Video analyst Richard Sherman.

On Friday, Allen said the timeout was the work of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who “got a little excited over there on the sideline.” Allen said he and Kubiak discussed it, and that it would not happen again.

Dennis Allen said the timeout called before the half was called by Klint Kubiak.

"He got a little excited over there on the sideline. He and I discussed that. That won't be a problem moving forward."

— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) October 18, 2024

One issue with Allen’s explanation is that, by rule, coordinators cannot call timeout in the NFL. The call would have had to come from Allen or a Saints player on the field, though it is theoretically possible that a player called timeout at Kubiak’s request. It is also possible Kubiak had a timeout inadvertently granted to him by an official. This rule was a significant talking point in one Week 1 game, too.

Regardless of how the timeout was granted, some may argue it’s not a great look for Allen to throw Kubiak under the bus over it. Plus, the fact that anyone wanted it at all does not speak well to how the Saints were operating. There were plenty of other moments that also demonstrated how dysfunctional things appear to be in New Orleans.