“I can promise you that message was heard loud and clear from the fans and Mrs. Gayle Benson,” said Brees, who was the color commentator for the Saints-New York Giants broadcast on Sunday, as transcribed by Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein. “Bottom line: The performance is unacceptable, and certainly the level of expectation is quite a bit higher, on both sides of the ball. I don’t think anybody in the Saints organization is making any excuses.

“They recognize they need to play much better and will play much better.”

Benson’s comments at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club Luncheon on Tuesday were the headline of the week for the Saints.

“That is not acceptable to me,” Benson said about the 1-4 record. “And it falls short of what our fans truly deserve. I hear the frustration directed towards our team and our organization. It is not lost on me. Our fans invest their time and their hearts in the Saints. They are right to expect more than we have delivered.”

She shared her thoughts after the Saints’ 0-3 homestand, and specifically cited the 45-24 loss to the rival Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. It was a night with Brees and Steve Gleason in the building among 2006 Saints alumni who returned to the Superdome to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the team’s “Domecoming” after Hurricane Katrina.

“Losing this year’s anniversary game to Atlanta truly disappointed me … Kellen Moore and his coaches are responsible for preparing our players to perform,” Benson said. “Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success. Our players are responsible for their preparation and execution. I am responsible for holding this organization accountable.”

Benson showed up to a practice later in the week and hugged Moore in front of the local media.

“Mrs. B’s great," Moore said. "She, like all of us, wants better results. That’s how this business is. We’ve got great guys in this building doing what they can to find a formula. All we can control is moving forward, as far as playing better, coaching better, giving ourselves better opportunities.”

According to ESPN’s Ian Rapoport, Benson offered support to Moore and his staff during a visit to practice this week and indicated no change is imminent.