Brandon Staley Calls Out Troy Aikman After 'Not True' Comments About Saints DC During MNF Loss

New Orleans Saints' defensive coordinator Brandon Staley didn't appreciate ESPN analyst Troy Aikman saying that he didn't "have any answers" on defense and "knew it," given the team's injuries on that side of the ball, during Monday's 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Staley told reporters he had "no idea" what Aikman was talking about and refuted the comments "because they're not true."

"It was a tough night for us, and certainly, I'm responsible. I'm calling the defense, but we've got a great group of guys," Staley added. "No one defended that runner [Bijan Robinson] last year better than us. He's a hell of a player. But our group defended him twice last year better than anyone through his time in the NFL."

In two games last season, the Saints indeed held Robinson to 103 rushing yards and five receptions for 47 yards, keeping him out of the end zone. They did not have that level of success on Monday night, however.

The Saints gave up 420 yards of total offense in the loss and 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns alone to the electric Robinson.

▶️ Full Falcons-Saints Recap

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That led Aikman to the commentary that irked Staley.

"Staley, he just simply doesn't have any answers. And I think he knew it when we talked to him coming in," the former NFL quarterback and longtime color commentator said during the broadcast. "I think he knew. He didn't tell us, but the guys that are out... their big edge-rushers and guys who can play the run and set the edge, they're not on the field, and they just don't have that star defender that can erase mistakes for other people. This was a matchup issue coming into this game, and it's proven true."

The Saints were missing players like edge-rushers Carl Granderson and Anfernee Jennings and linebacker Kaden Elliss, while Pete Werner was playing through a stinger.

Despite being short-handed Staley felt the game changed for the Saints on Atlanta's final drive of the first quarter, when a defensive holding penalty on fourth down gave the Falcons new life and Robinson scored one play later. The Falcons then scored on five of their next seven drives (and the two they didn't score on came at the end of each half).

"There were plenty of good moments in there in the first half, but after that possession, it was really up and down," he told reporters. "We did not play a good game after that fourth-down penalty. We never got our rhythm back as a defense. And that's what stood out to me. And that's why I say it was very uncharacteristic of us because, since I've been here, we've been very steady. But that game got away from us."