Saints Report # 4 - September 29, 2019

While most NFL matches could be likened to a made-for-television, pay-per-view pinball game, somehow when Dallas and New Orleans get together it turns into a defensive collision.  Last year, Dallas stunned the Saints 13-10, ending a winning streak, and starting the Saints’ transition into December football.  Sunday, it was the Saints turn to bring down the undefeated (but truthfully untested) Cowboys, 12-10.  That they did it without scoring a touchdown while still controlling the clock and moving the ball well made for one of those intense Superdome clashes that are just wearing me out.  Wil Lutz kicked 4 field goals for all the Saintly scoring.

I spent most of the game watching Marshon Lattimore covering Amari Cooper.  I knew going in this game was going to hinge on the matchup of the Cowboys vaunted offensive line versus the Saints quickly improving defensive line.  As soon as it appeared that Cameron Jordan and friends were going to give Ezekiel Elliott fits, it was all about the secondary.  They were up to the task against what I thought was a surprisingly vanilla attack by the Cowboys.  If Lattimore returns to his role as a true shut down corner, he can take the other team’s best receiver to Lattimore Island and park him there.  The Saints linebackers, while not as good as Dallas’s (did you see their speed?) have also greatly improved.  The defense is becoming fun to watch.  If they stay healthy, it’s going to be a fun 16 games.  I know.  We are only in the first quarter of the season.  Temper the enthusiasm.

Teddy Bridgewater continued to fill in admirably for Drew Brees.  I had previously said that with the Saints’ difficult September, if they could get out of it with a 2-2 record, I would be happy.  If you had told me that they would go 3-1, and be without Drew for the majority of that, I’d have gone to Rouse’s and bought a pineapple upside down cake to celebrate in advance.  All of this of course against my better dietary judgement. Credit the Saints for investing in a back up QB behind an almost never injured Brees.  They knew if Brees ever went down, they had to stay competitive, or they'd be wasting a very talented team.  They anticipated the need for a bridge over trouble water.  (forgive me.)

The Saints are relying heavily on the superstar tandem of Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas.  They aren’t so much gamebreakers, as they are clock grinders.  Suddenly, the Saints weakness is on offense as they appear to have to little to complement their terrific two.  Tight End Jared Cook hasn’t asserted himself yet, Ted Ginn doesn’t appear to be the threat he once was, and other receivers are not even getting a look.  Another wideout right about now would be a boost.  But, the complexity of the offense means there won’t be any quick fixes.  It gives one some hesitation in the hopes that the Saints are rolling toward a championship.

The two Superdome games have featured an invasion of Texans.  I have to admit some fans have been a little obnoxious for my taste and I’m glad they’ve been quieted.  Bad house guests make me irritable.  Good defense makes me happy.