If you think that in their 50 years of existence the New
Orleans Saints have explored all the ways to lose a game, you just haven’t been
paying attention. Sunday the Saints
found a new way. Lining up to kick an
extra point that would give them a 24 – 23 lead after another Drew Brees-led-shoulda-been-a-game-winning
drive, they allowed a block that the Denver Broncos ran back for an
anti-conversion of some type, based on a new rule the NFL added last year just
to haunt the Saints. It gave the
Broncos 2 points and an unlikely 25 – 24 victory. Innovation.
It’s a Saints hallmark.
It was the latest in a series of mystifying special team
blunders the Saints have provided over the last few weeks, including a couple
more during this game.
Meanwhile Drew Brees shook off interceptions on 2 straight
first half passes to put the Saints in a position to win, completing 13 in a
row at one point. He had even overcome 2
second half fumbles by rookie Michael Thomas.
But it was all for naught as the Saints tumbled to 4 – 5. The Saints defense, while making a few big
plays, continues to be the counterpoint to the efficient offense. They did sack a rookie QB 6 times, but the
Saints went back to their old ways of losing the time of possession 40/20
because they wouldn’t run the ball leaving the defense on the field way too
much in a game like this.
It’s always something in the Snakebit Dome.
That the Drew Brees era has only yielded one Super Bowl
victory will seem disappointing, but it could be worse. Ask Dan Marino, Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly, Warren
Moon, Fran Tarkenton, Bert Jones, Donovan McNabb, Sonny Jurgensen and many
more. I just keep telling myself that.
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