Anybody who thinks there’s no inflation hasn’t been to Popeye’s lately.
Anybody who thinks the Saints can’t find a way to win, just isn’t paying attention.
The New Orleans Saints pulled another escape act Sunday 34-30 over the Bengals.
The NFL is going to have to change another rule.
After last year the NFL was so upset that Brett Favre didn’t get the ball in the Saints’ overtime playoff win that they changed the overtime rule starting in this year’s postseason. Can’t win with a one possession field goal anymore.
This week it was guard Carl Nicks who knew the rules and played the role perfectly.
The Saints weekly last minute drive had stalled at the 4 yard line, and an impending field goal would send the game into overtime. But first, the Saints called a time out and lined up as if to go for it, obviously intending to try to draw the Bengals offside, although that never works, right?
Well, the Bengals bungled. A lineman jumped into the neutral zone and Carl Nicks wisely reacted, making it a penalty. Seconds later, it’s Brees to Colston for another winning score. Glad that rule's in there, for now.
Gone in 60 seconds. Meachem and Brees were 4th quarter heroes again, Chris Ivory pounded the Bengals to the tune of 116 yards on the ground – including a 55 yard td run, and Reggie Bush still looked rusty.
The defense saved their best for last. After probably their least effective 59 minutes this year, and the Bengals threatening from midfield, every team in the world drops back and plays pass defense. But every team doesn’t have Gregg Williams, who dialed up a devastating blitz that snowed Carson Palmer under to end the game. Escape.
The Saints just know how to win.
But there’s bad news.
The Saints didn’t get the expected help from Tampa Bay. The Bucs blew a lead largely because of a clutch kick off return for a TD by Atlanta, kind of the way the Saints did things last year. Atlanta looks good.
And the Saints’ special teams look horrible. They consistently put the Saints in field position holes all day long. Penalized heavily, and even outgained, the Saints can’t continue to rely on last minute drives.
The good news is that if Pierre Thomas returns, maybe he can help out on special teams.
Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, and Reggie Bush would appear to be a three-headed running back monster for the stretch run, if the JFG can keep it unpredictable.
Around the league:
The Rams come to town next, riding the best rookie QB the league has seen in awhile.
The Vikings got a look at their future (and their past) with Tavaris Jackson and he looked pretty good.
The Bears have an offense to compliment their defense, which goes from good to great when Urlacher is on the field. But, how does the NFL let them get away with that field?
That place seems to get re-sodded every time there’s a big game. Hope the playoffs don’t go thru Chicago.
Everyone’s talking about Peyton Manning struggling. The Saints kind of exposed him in the Super Bowl by just ignoring the run but now he legitimately has no running game and everyone’s hurt. I find it interesting that he’s taking all the blame. Where’s the coach?
Speaking of coaches, the Cowboys may have found one. Too bad.
San Diego still needs one. Norv Turner may be a terrific play caller, but it takes more.
Tampa Bay looks like they’re a year away.
The Ravens continue to play great defense and while the Saints did pretty well in the cold in Cincy, don’t look for the Ravens to hand anything over when the Saints come to town.
I predicted that the Chiefs would be the surprise team in the NFL this year because you have to love their coaching staff, and I thought their draft was great. I’ve got them going all the way to the AFC championship game, but I didn’t think the Jets would live up to the hype. I now think the Patriots, although awfully young on defense, will prove to be the class of the AFC. Houston has been disappointing, Jacksonville surprising, Tennessee tumultuous, and the Dolphins DOA. Managing your injury list is probably the top skill you need to survive.
It’s something the Saints do very well. Although depleted at linebacker, and weak on special teams, they continue to plug and play. It would be nice to spend a Sunday watching an easy win instead of The Great Escape. It would be nice to get some cheap chicken too.
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