Last week the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran up 55 points on the
Los Angeles Rams. They looked like an
offensive juggernaut, and there was some trepidation that they would come into
the Superdome with some real momentum under their new coach Bruce Arians.
As young people today like to say, “no worries.”
The Saints defense dominated in a 31-24 victory that shouldn’t
have been that close. A rare strategic late
game error by Sean Payton led to a second straight garbage touchdown at the end
of the game by the visiting team.
Leading 31 – 17 and in easy field goal range, Payton opted to run on 4th
down with a minute 16 left, rather than kick a field goal that would have made it a 3 score lead at
34-17. Instead the Bucs drove down after the Saints’ unsuccessful conversion
and scored a touchdown with 13 seconds to go, bringing it to a one score game
at 31-24. It was going to come down to
an onside kick, which fortunately the Bucs kicked out of bounds. A field goal would have put the game out of
reach, but Saints fans would get stress tested again. It's just the way it is.
The latest trend in “game management” is to receive the kick
to begin the second half in the hope that you can turn two straight possessions
into a big lead. Since the Bucs won the
toss and chose to receive the opening kickoff, the Saints did just that, taking
a 24-10 lead with touchdown drives to end the first half and begin the second
half. Bridgewater was hot as he threw 4
touchdown passes, two to Michael Thomas, whom Tampa just can’t guard. He had 11 catches for 182 yards, as Bridgewater
and the Saints opened up the downfield passing game. Bridgewater finished with 26 of 34 for 314
yards, his best outing so far as a Saint.
Meanwhile the Saints defense continued to shine. They harassed Winston to the tune of 6 sacks,
and Carl Granderson even got one.
Granderson was a free agent gamble that looks like it may pay off. A tremendously gifted athlete out of Wyoming,
he was serving a jail term when training camp began. Projected as a late round draft pick, he probably
went undrafted due to sexual assault charges. He’s an uncharacteristic “character”
gamble by the Saints. The Saints defensive
line is a swarming, persistent group that is beginning to dominate. Sheldon Rankins is back. Marcus Davenport is coming into his own. Malcom Browne is paying off as a free agent. Player gambles like Jarius Byrd Brandon Browner are forgotten as the Saints rarely miss on a prospect these days. Generating a pass rush with only an
occasional blitz has allowed the secondary to press coverage more. Marshon Lattimore had his second straight
lockdown game, this time shutting out Michael Evans, one of the best receivers
in the NFL. That’s right, not a single
catch. It must be said that the Saints haven't had this much team talent since the Dome Patrol.
After 5 games, the Saints are a surprising 4-1. Given their tough schedule, and the injury to
Brees, it’s a phenomenal start. Next,
the Saints get an up close look at Minshew Magic as they travel to Jacksonville. As always, it will be a stress test.
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