Saints Report #16 - December 30, 2018

In a game that meant little, the Saints played like it, losing 33-14 to the Carolina Panthers in the Superdome.  The Saints had already locked up home dome advantage throughout the playoffs, and now take a week off as they wait out the wild card round.

Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara didn’t play and backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looked like he hadn’t played in three years, which he hadn’t.  The Saints defense was lethargic as some of the old suspects, like Ken Crawley, made Carolina’s 3^rd team quarterback Kyle Allen look all-world. If this is what the Saints are going to look like after Brees retires, it won't be pretty.

But there was some good news.  Drew Brees, by virtue of sitting out, set the single season completion percentage mark at 74.9%, bettering his previous NFL record by 2 points – incredible.  However, not playing cost him a 10^th consecutive 4000 yard season, as he finished with 3994 yards.

Michael Thomas, by playing, was able to set the Saints franchise receiving yardage record at 1405 yards, breaking Joe Horn’s single season mark. Third team running back Dwayne Washington was impressive, going over 100 yards rushing.  And that's all the good news fit to print.

So, the season ends with many similarities to the Saints 2009 Super Bowl campaign.  This year and that they lost to the Cowboys, Bucs, and Panthers.  Their season ender was a loss to the Panthers, although not as flat as the this one was.

The Saints have had a charmed playoff run in home games going 5-0 in the Payton era.  Their appearance in the 2009 NFC Championship was greatly aided by Adrian Peterson’s fumbles and Brett Favre’s interception.  The road to another Super Bowl is going to be extremely tough as the NFC is super-competitive – but at least the it goes down Poydras Avenue.  The crowd will be in full throttle, and hopefully the Saints can put their dismal December behind them.  I have to say most of the playoff teams are coming in with momentum, but the Saints will have to regenerate theirs.  Can they do it?  Well, they did in 2009, when they lost their last 3.  Let's hope Sean Payton has the handle on the team now that he had then. 

My preseason prediction was that the Saints would roll the Patriots 43-14 in the Super Bowl, and I’d take that.  But, I didn’t see the emergence of the Chiefs, who right now look like an awfully good bet to make it to the game.  Get the chips and dip out.  It’s going to be fun.