NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans Saints team that looked so promising during the first two weeks of the NFL season now looks historically bad.

With a 26-8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Saints are in the midst of their second six-game skid this century — their first in 19 years. The most recent seven-game losing streak came in 1999 under then-coach Mike Ditka.

“We have a lot of bad stuff right now,” Alvin Kamara said bluntly. “I don’t think we’re a team that’s very committed to the details right now. … I don’t think we pride ourselves on those things, because if you did, we wouldn’t have so many other ailments.”

As the losses mounted, New Orleans’ performance level plummeted. In their first two losses this season, the Saints held leads in the final minutes but were unable to seal the deal.

The last four losses have come by double digits, including three straight by 18 or more points.

The latest loss was particularly bad for morale, as the Saints came into the game hoping that the return of a number of prominent starters would give them an edge over the loaded Chargers.

Instead, the Chargers demonstrated how injuries can be overcome, while the Saints provided evidence of execution issues that run deeper than roster health.

The Saints’ performance was not entirely without highlights. But while Kamara and wide receiver Chris Olave both gained more than 100 yards a game, their successes were overshadowed by untimely penalties and a number of other assignment or execution failures that stalled drives.

While New Orleans’ defense looked resilient, getting three sacks and forcing six fumbles, that unit’s work was made difficult by how quickly it had to get back on the field after the Saints’ offense continued to stall.

“The margin for error right now is small,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said. “When we have opportunities to make plays, I think we have to be able to make them.”

The previous two Saints coaches to endure skids of six or more games were Jim Haslett in 2005 and Ditka. Each was fired after those seasons.

Three of the past six losses have come without the services of injured starting quarterback Derek Carr, who is expected to return this week. If that’s the case, the Saints can only hope he provides the spark they need and it’s not too late.

what’s up

The Saints defense has been solid early in games, only to wear down as New Orleans’ offense struggles to support the types of units that can give defenders adequate time between drives to rest and review necessary adjustments. The Chargers’ first-quarter sack was their third of the season. Only once in eight games have the Saints allowed more than seven points in the first quarter.

Which needs help

The offense hit skids, especially on the opposite side of midfield, and dropped to a new low, producing just two field goals (the punt return team was a safety).

“We made some explosive plays and then penalties followed,” Allen said. “Right now, we’re not overtaking them. So we have to play a cleaner game to give ourselves a chance.”

The Saints went 2 for 16 on third down. New Orleans was flagged six times for offensive penalties, including five at the line.

Supply

Olave returned from concussion protocol and reclaimed his status as one of New Orleans’ most productive players, catching eight passes from backup QBs for 107 yards.

Stock down

The Saints hoped the Rattler, who was making his third straight start, would benefit from another week of experience and the return of several key offensive starters. But for the second straight game, the Rattler failed to lead a touchdown drive and was benched in favor of fellow backup Jake Haener in the second half of a loss.

Injury report

CB Marshon Lattimore and RB Kendre Miller are both out with hamstring injuries — and not for the first time this season.

“It’s unfortunate for those two players because they’ve had a little bit of that in their history,” Allen said. “We have to try to figure out how we can eliminate that.”

Rookie WR Bub Means injured his ankle. CB Rico Payton left with a back injury in the fourth quarter and TE Juwan Johnson was evaluated for a concussion.

Carr (oblique) missed his third straight game.

Key number

0 — The number of touchdowns the Saints have scored in Los Angeles despite the return of Olave, versatile tight end Taysom Hill and starting right guard Cesar Ruiz. It was the first game this season that the Saints failed to get into the end zone at all.

Further on

The Saints are on the road again Sunday at Carolina, a team they defeated 47-10 in Week 1 in what looked deceptively at the time to be an auspicious debut for the coordinator’s first-round offense. an Klint Kubiak.