CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dennis Allen was feeling optimistic after the New Orleans Saints started the season 2-0.

But a seven-game losing streak, including a 23-22 road loss to NFL cellar dweller Carolina on Sunday, has Allen fielding questions about his job security.

Allen went 7-10 in his first season with the Saints and improved to 9-8 last year.

But as the Saints head toward a third straight season of non-playoff football during his tenure, his seat is getting hotter in New Orleans.

“I just think we need to be better,” Allen said when asked about his job.

Asked if he thought he was doing his job, Allen said: “Obviously when you’re not winning, it’s hard to say you are. I have to be better for our guys. … Here’s what I’ll say: I’m going to continue to come every day and fight like I’ve been doing since I’ve been here. »

Allen and the Saints had hoped that quarterback Derek Carr’s return to the lineup after a three-game absence would give them a spark.

Instead, they lost to the Panthers (2-7), a team they throttled 47-10 in Week 1 at the Superdome. Carr threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns in this game.

“We have good leadership in the room,” Allen said. “We have to do a better job playing, coaching and hopefully getting some guys healthy. It’s going to be hard. This is going to be a challenge. But going through such adversity reveals character. The only option is to stand up and fight.

Allen said Carr looked “rusty” in his return to the starting lineup and the Saints were unable to close out despite taking a 22-17 lead in the fourth quarter. And when the Saints only needed to get within field goal range in the final 2:18 to win, they couldn’t do it as Carr’s fourth-and-four passes to Cedrick Wilson were broken up.

“I didn’t see a lot of issues throughout the week in practice,” Allen said. “But obviously games are different than practices. Our plan was to come here and run the football. And we were able to do that. I don’t think we were able to do that much in the passing game.

Entering Sunday, teams that outgained opponents by more than 150 yards, ran for more than 150 yards and won the turnover battle were 275-0 overall over the past 20 seasons, according to ESPN.

Make it 275-1.

The Saints wasted a terrific game by Alvin Kamara, who rushed 29 times for 155 yards and caught six passes for 60 yards.

Carr said the players were upset and “bewildered” after the loss.

“We should be winning these football games and we’re not,” Carr said. “For us, it’s hard to swallow and it’s hard to deal with. We must continue to get back up and continue to move forward. This one hurt. If I were our fans, I would be (upset) right now, because we are too.

As for Allen’s job security, Carr said it far exceeded his decision-making abilities.

“My job is to play quarterback and take care of the football and try to score touchdowns and put ourselves in position to win football games,” Carr said. “The one thing I’ve learned when these kinds of things happen is that if you don’t have a tight group, things can go south very quickly. As players, you never want that this happens.

Carr then added of Allen’s uncertain future: “Even thinking it could happen sucks.” This is the lousiest part of this business and the lousiest part of the current situation.