Saints Report # 3 - September 26, 2016

Monday Night football got a terribly low rating up against the Presidential Debates. 

In the Superdome where the game was played, there was no debate.

The hated Atlanta Falcons brought a woodshed into the Superdome and took the Saints to it.  The final score of 45 – 32 makes it look close, and the statistics indicate a close game.  Don’t be fooled.  The Saints never had a chance.

Live by the punt, die by the punt.  In a week during which there were so many Gleason (10 years ago) and Mauti (last year) reminders, the Falcons had to be sick of seeing and hearing about blocked punts.  I only had one prediction going into the game.  There was no way the Falcons were going to allow a blocked punt.  But, I didn't predict a cold revenge dish.

When the Saints opened the game with a nice drive for a score, then held the Falcons to a punt, the Dome was rocking.  The Falcons punted and Saint rookie free agent De’Vante Harris made the hit of the game, unfortunately against his teammate TommyLee Lewis, who was minding his own business trying to field that punt at the time. 

The Falcons pounced on the football and easily pounded it in to tie the game at 7 – 7, and momentum had taken a shift of Gleason-like proportions.  It was the second straight week with a special teams’ disaster.  That, unfortunately, is the sign of a bad football team, and the Falcons had to feel gratified with the turn of events. 

The Saints defense, which had looked so promising in the Meadowlands last week, rarely slowed the Falcons down after that.  The Falcons ran and passed at will.  Sean Payton had been 14-4 against the Falcons.  It has always been the same game plan.  Hit the Quarterback.  They only hit Matt Ryan a few times, and several of them were after long runs for a first down. He looked all-world, and the Saints attempts to tackle Devante Freeman were air mishaps.

Kenny Vaccaro, who has been playing with a little fire, was unable to go due to injury.

Roman Harper, who appears to be a step slower than molasses at this point, just couldn’t make the plays that Vaccaro has been making.  But there was certainly enough molasses to go around.  Only new acquisition Paul Kruger appeared to be able to cover any ground.  The Saints have lost so many starters on defense that the only thing we can hope for is that the young secondary is getting a trial by fire that pays off in the future.

One thing is for sure, as long as Drew Brees is around, the Saints don’t give up.  No lead is safe, except when that lead is expanding.  A late interception that was returned for a touchdown was the offensive disaster of the night, and the Saints were not going to recover.

Brees and the offense matriculated all night, but the Falcons had a simple strategy.  First of all, they appeared to have no respect for the Saints running game, which makes two of us.  The Saints had some success running, but the Falcons were intent on stopping the big play, so the offense got nothing easy as they were forced to work in small chunks.  It’s a game plan the Saints will probably see again.

So, now it’s off to San Diego.  What gives the Saints hope of winning this one?  Drew Brees.  He will not want to get embarrassed by his old team. 

Let’s hope the Saints pick up on that vibe.  They are now 0-3, to go with their 0-3 start in 2015, 1-3 in 2014, and 0-4 in 2013.  That’s an embarrassing trend.  It’s beyond debate.