Saints Report # 9 - November 11, 2012

Now only one game under .500 at 4-5, and a 31-27 victory under their belt over the previously unbeaten Atlanta Falcons, (a wonderful sentence) here’s what we know about this year’s version of the New Orleans Saints.  First, they are pretty hard to beat when they garner 150 yards rushing.  Secondly, while at first glance their defense is as horrible as any in history, it really operates in direct proportion to the amount of ground they must defend.   When they have the whole field, they look like they’re running in quicksand.  As the field shrinks and the opposing team nears the end zone, they look like the steel curtain reincarnate.

For much of Sunday’s game Matt Ryan was throwing to Falcon receivers who could have called for a fair catch, they were so wide open.  Drew Brees was threading the needle to receivers who were just breaking open.  Then there’s the red zone where Jimmy Graham and Marquis Colston dominate and the Falcons couldn’t get open.  Such an interesting game. 

The Falcons will be fired up for a rematch later this month in the Atlanta copycat dome and certainly should win that game, but the reality of it is that if the Saints continue to run the ball, and the defense continues to improve, the Saints could end up 10 – 6, or 9-7.    Who’d of thunk it the way they stunk it to start the season?