National Football League

Saints stuck in Seattle, flight back to New Orleans delayed

Published Dec. 3, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

A flight delay is forcing the New Orleans Saints to spend much of Tuesday in the air instead of starting preparations for Sunday night's pivotal NFC South clash with the Carolina Panthers.

Team officials did not specify what caused the delay but spokesman Doug Miller confirmed the Saints were still waiting to leave Seattle at around 11 a.m. EST.

With a flight of more than four hours crossing two time zones, the Saints were not expected to land until mid- to late-afternoon.

New Orleans lost 34-7 to the Seahawks on Monday night, and then was forced to spend the night in Seattle rather than fly home overnight.

The loss dropped the Saints into a tie with the Carolina Panthers atop the NFC South Division at 9-3.