Raiders vs. Saints: Plenty of ties to New Orleans for Dennis Allen

When the Oakland Raiders take on the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, Raiders head coach Dennis Allen will have friends on both sidelines. The game in the Big Easy is a homecoming of sorts for Allen who was an assistant defensive line coach for two seasons and the secondary coach for three years with the Saints. Allen ultimately left the Saints to be the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator in 2011 before taking the Raiders head coaching job.

The 3-6 start to the Raiders season has raised the ire of many fans who don't understand why the team turned to a first-time head coach this season. But Saints interim coach Joe Vitt has only the highest of praise for Allen and his abilities as a head coach, via the Mercury News:

"Dennis Allen knows how to teach, motivate and inspire. Dennis Allen is not going to go off the cuff and off the reservation by saying or doing dumb things. He's going to get them better."

The Raiders head into New Orleans to face a Saints team that has won four of their last five games after starting the season 0-4. Both teams need a win to help keep any playoff hopes alive.