New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen remains hopeful despite the team's recent rough patch, noting that they are not even halfway through the season. The Saints have lost four out of their last five games, but are still in the NFC South race. They have been close to winning in their losses, with missed opportunities in the final minutes of each game. Allen believes the team has identified the challenges and now needs to find solutions. The Saints' no-huddle offense showed promise in their recent game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they still struggled in the red zone and on third downs. Defensive end Carl Granderson has been a standout player for the Saints. Wide receiver Chris Olave's performance has been inconsistent, and the team needs to clean up their communication and execution. The Saints hope to use their extra time off to recover from injuries before their upcoming games against the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and Minnesota Vikings.