METAIRE, La. — For a team that couldn’t lose at home with coach Sean Payton on the sidelines, the New Orleans Saints have fallen on hard times in a span of just 16 days.

As they are probably thinking after Monday night’s 34-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, it’s not a lot of fun. Coming off two big wins to wrap up the month of October, the Saints seemed to be set up with three consecutive home games.

But the Saints (4-7) didn’t capitalize on the golden opportunity presented them by the NFL schedule-maker last spring.

They dropped all three games to the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and Ravens and now have to wonder how they’ll get back on track and make a late-season run to the playoffs — beginning with Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

While losing to those three teams is certainly no disgrace, falling to them in the Superdome — where they won 20 consecutive games in 2011 and 2013-14 with Payton in the building — was a jolt to the system.

Even though they led 17-14 at halftime, the Saints again seemed out of sorts — especially on defense against the Ravens, who had more than 200 yards rushing and passing against an injury-depleted defense.

“It’s a game that comes down to opportunities and we weren’t able to capitalize on them in both areas and the kicking game as well,” Payton said. “So quickly now, we have not only a short week, but the holiday to deal with schedule wise and we’ll get on to Pittsburgh.”

Not even the knowledge that his team is still tied for first place in the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons could make Payton feel any better.

“I don’t take a lot of solace right now after a loss,” he said. “Obviously, to be playing for something is important, and yet, we have to make sure that some of the things that we did better tonight we continue to build on and some of things that we did not do well, we get corrected.

“That being said, the unique situation we are in is what it is. We can’t control that. What we can control is our week’s preparation and where we go from here.”

NOTES: NT Brodrick Bunkley, who left Monday night’s game with a quadriceps injury, did not return and reportedly could be out for the season. … RB Khiry Robinson missed his fifth game in a row with an arm injury. It is not known when he will return. … The return of ILB Kyle Knox (hand) is uncertain. … WR Robert Meachem was inactive for a third straight game because of an ankle injury, but he practiced last week on a limited basis.