When the Saints play, There Will Be Blood Pressure. Sunday
was no exception, as the Saints raced out hare-like to a 14-0 lead only to see
tortoise-like Carolina come all the way back to tie, and line up for a chip shot
game winner. Fortunately, new kicker
Joey Slye seemed befuddled at short distances, as he missed two extra points
and then the short kick that would’ve won it.
Surprising, as he had blasted two long field goals.
The two minute door was left ajar, and Drew Brees, NFL MVP Michael
Thomas (I don't care what they say), and Alvin Kamara put together another signature drive to set up Wil
Lutz’s game winner and the Saints escaped with a 34-31 victory in the Superdome
to move to 9-2.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that the Saints will be staring at a very proficient
Carolina quarterback named Kyle Allen, for possibly 20 years. Here’s my new rule of thumb for drafting
quarterbacks in the NFL. Go ahead draft
a running quarterback (Cam Newton, RGIII, Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick) and get
maybe 10 years out of the them, and bet on the fact that they are going to get hurt. Or, grab a
pocket passer, like Allen, and he’ll be good for 15-20 years (Brees, Brady, Rogers.) Looks likes Cam Newton is going to move on, and Kyle
will be there. I don’t think it’s going
to be all that enjoyable for Saints fans.
The New Orleans Saints navigated a ridiculously difficult
first quarter of the season, emerging with wins over the Texans, Seahawks, and
Cowboys, with Teddy Bridgewater leading the Saints to a 5-1 start.
They have had a much more difficult time navigating the NFC South.
The Saints survived even more than the usual adversity. Zebras actually called a pass interference on
a challenge flag against the Saints that led to that missed Slye field
goal. Enough Irony for you? Cameron Jordan committed a horrible penalty
on a sack by Demario Davis that probably would have sealed the game, turning a 4th
and 25 into a 1st and 10, saving a Panthers' drive. The Saints came in with one of their “pass
first” game plans that always seem to result in a critical interception, and it
did this time too. They again were victimized by excessive field
laundry and questionable calls that raised blood pressure to dangerous heights in
the house where I was watching. Jared
Cook had a great game, giving the Saints a third elite weapon to go with Thomas
and Kamara. Brees is gaining confidence
in him, so he is willing to go to Jared.
Ted Ginn continued his torrid pace of catching a ball a game, dropping one, and there
was a Tre’quan Smith sighting for a touchdown.
Make no mistake, the Saints have some issues. The Panthers were in a position to win, and
should have won, but for the fact that Graham Gnoe is spending the year on the
injured list. As he does several times a
year, Drew Brees executed what he had practiced. With the game on the line in the 4th
quarter, don’t doubt it for a minute – his straw is long, and he will drink
your milk shake.
Next up, the tough task of traveling to another Mercedes
Benz stadium – to meet the Falcons who just came down to earth after a couple
of surprising weeks, including one where they embarrassed the Saints. Thanksgiving blood pressure will be on the
line. Not to mention digestion.
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