Saints Report #1 - September 9, 2019

At the dome, at the dome, at the great Superdome,
You’ll have fun, you’ll have fun, every Sunday this fall,
You’ll love the thrilling drives, you’ll scream til you split your sides,
at the Superdome, the Saints Superdome.

New Orleanians may miss the Zephyr, the famed roller coaster at Pontchartrain Beach.  But roller coaster thrills are still available.  Just come out of the New Orleans heat into the air cooled Superdome, and hold on for dear life. 
There have been some great games in the Superdome.  Monday night’s battle between the Saints and Texans has to rank as one of the best.  The Saints pulled out a 30-28 win on a 58 yard field goal by Wil Lutz as time expired.  It was heart pounding, then heart breaking, then heart pounding again.
There was so much to this game:

• The Saints won their opener for the first time in 6 years.  Previously they have started 0-2, 0-3, 0-3, 0-2, 0-1.  They had not won an opener since 2013. 
• The Saints were down 14-3 at the half, having looked lethargic and outgunned.  Quarterback DeShaun Watson had a terrific game, gashing and goring the Saints with runs and passes. 
• The Saints secondary struggled against the Texans receiving corps of DeAndre Hopkins, Wil Fuller, and new acquisition Kenny Stills.  The Saints are glad they’re leaving town, and the rest of the NFL is going to have to deal with them.
• Ryan Ramzyck turned in an all-pro performance by holding JJ Watts without one single tackle. 
• Drew Brees was not sacked.  Kamara and Thomas were terrific.
• Ted Ginn, who missed 11 games last year, had over 100 yards receiving, including 2 critical catches on the last drive.
• The officiating crew totally butchered the clock at the end of the first half
• The Saints were down 21-10 midway through the third quarter.
• The Saints sacked Watson 6 times, the most in the NFL in week 1.  It didn’t intimidate him.
• Cameron Jordan was all over the field.
• The Saints played 2 deep safeties much of the game.  It didn’t seem to help as the Texans still were able to throw deep, and run the ball effectively.  Last year they spent most of the year with one deep safety and the Saints were great against the run.  This game, they were good against neither the run nor the pass.
• The game was the first Monday Night Game ever to feature 2 lead changes in the last minute of the game.

I have two thoughts about the fourth quarter.  1 – It was incredible, and 2 – I’m getting too old for this.

The Saints took a 24-21 lead and got the ball with 3:29 left.  They needed to run out the clock, but the Texans still had all 3 timeouts, so it wasn’t going to be easy.  They started on their own 8 yard line.  On third and 2, Brees completed his longest pass of the night, 40 yards to Ted Ginn.  Remember that.  The Saints drive stalled and Lutz kicked a field goal, making it 27 -21. 

The Texans got the ball with 50 seconds left and no timeouts.  The dome was rocking, but the crowd was quickly stunned when it only took 2 plays and 13 seconds for the Texans to go the length of the field, with long passes to Watson, and Stills.  And just like that the season opener was the inevitable disaster that seems to be the Saints destiny.  Except the kicker missed the extra point, so the game is tied at 27.  Except there’s a flag.  Except the refs have something to say.  They always do.  They call roughing the kicker and the Texans get a gift re-kick to take the lead at 28-27.

So, the Saints get the ball back with 37 seconds left and they start what will be a legendary drive.  First 15 yards to Ted Ginn, and they clock it.  11 yards to Michael Thomas, and they clock it. Then the final pass.  With the Texans backed off of Ginn (remember he’s just burned them) Brees completes a nine yard pass to him, and he drops to the ground.  Wil Lutz then nailed a 58 yard kick to win it 30 – 28. 

In a city that misses the Ponchartrain Beach Roller Coaster, we know we can always get onboard the black and gold one that awaits within the Superdome.  The ride is always fast, sometimes thrilling.  This night it was especially thrilling.

Now it’s the tough west coast trip.  Now you’ll ride the roller coaster in the comfort of your living room.