The New Orleans Saints fired coach Dennis Allen on Monday, a day after a loss at last-place Carolina extended the Saints’ losing streak to seven games — their longest since 1999.

The Saints named special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi the club’s interim coach for the final eight games of what is trending toward a fourth straight season without a playoff berth for New Orleans (2-7).

Allen is 18-25 without a playoff appearance since taking over in 2022 after Sean Payton, the most successful coach in Saints history, began what turned out to be a one-season retirement from coaching.

Allen was promoted by general manager Mickey Loomis after a six-season tenure as New Orleans’ defensive coordinator, a period that saw his unit ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in 2020 and 2021.

In a written statement released by the team, Allen thanked Saints owner Benson and Loomis for his opportunity, calling the Saints an “organization that will always be near and dear to my heart.”

Allen said he never questioned his players’ dedication and resolve, adding, “I am sorry the results weren’t better, because they were certainly deserved.”

The Saints continued to field one of the better defenses in the NFL during Allen’s first two seasons as head coach, but the offense has been erratic and often struggled in the late stages of close games.

Raiders fire offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and 2 other offensive coaches>> The slumping Raiders fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy as part of an offensive coaching staff shakeup Sunday night, less than a year after Las Vegas hired him.

Quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello and offensive line coach James Cregg also were let go. Both also were on the job less than a year.

The moves come on the same day the Raiders lost 41-24 at Cincinnati, their fifth defeat in a row to fall to 2-7.

Cardinals trade Browning to Broncos >> The Arizona Cardinals agreed to acquire linebacker Baron Browning from the Denver Broncos, bolstering the team’s pass rush ahead of the trade deadline.

The Cardinals will send a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to the Broncos.

Basketball

Spurs coach Popovich out indefinitely >> San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is out indefinitely while recovering from an illness.

San Antonio announced Popovich did not travel with the team on its current road trip at the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday and at Houston on Wednesday. The Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

Mitch Johnson will serve as interim coach during Popovich’s absence.

Johnson was informed about 2 1/2 hours prior to Saturday’s tipoff against the Minnesota Timberwolves that the 75-year-old Popovich was unavailable because of an undisclosed illness.

It marked the third time Johnson has served as head coach in Popovich’s absence.

College Football

Mississippi’s Dart earns AP Player of the Week honors >> The Associated Press national player of the week in college football for Week 10 of the season: Jaxson Dart, Mississippi.

Dart threw for a Mississippi-record 515 yards and rushed for 47 in the Rebels’ 63-31 win at Arkansas. His 562 total yards broke Archie Manning’s school-record of 540, set in 1969 against Alabama. Dart also threw six of the Rebels’ record-tying seven touchdown passes.

Dart joined Missouri’s Drew Lock (2017) as the only Southeastern Conference quarterbacks to throw for at least 500 yards and six TDs in a game.

Baseball

Rangers name new GM and hitting coach >> The Texas Rangers promoted Ross Fenstermaker to general manager, hired Cole Figuerora as assistant GM and named Justin Viele their new hitting coach.

Fenstermaker’s elevation in the organization comes just less than three months after Chris Young was given a multiyear contract extension and promotion from GM to President of Baseball Operations.