Saints Report #4 - October 4, 2020

We struggle in the beginning.
We dominate in our prime.
Then, we hold on for dear life toward the end.  

Such is life.

And such was the Saints game in Detroit Sunday.  The Saints scored 35 unanswered points on 5 straight touchdown drives.  The Lions had 2 touchdowns on each end of those dominant drives, but ended up on the short end of the 35-29 score.

I thought the Saints were going to get torched on this day.  Among their injuries were their two starting cornerbacks, as well as 3 other starters.  They had a sleep-robbing Covid scare upon arrival in Detroit that lasted into the night.  Their offense had been sputtering without Michael Thomas and the vultures were circling Drew Brees right arm like it was going to fall off any moment.

My fears were quickly affirmed when the Lions drove for a touchdown on their first drive of the game, and quickly followed with another when Brees’ very first pass was batted at the line of scrimmage and floated into the arms of a waiting Lion.  So the scene is set, the Saints are 1-2 and down 14 on the road 5 minutes into the game.  The Bucs could take control of the division at 3-1 with an expected win over the Chargers and the Saints would be on the verge of digging another early season hole.

So, what happened?  Drew Brees came alive like Frampton could only dream of.  Mixing in all the passes it was said he couldn’t throw anymore with a solid running game, the Saints drove and drove.  Latavius Murray and Alvin Kamara were gouging the Lions.  In fact, and you won’t believe this, on a third and goal from the 6, the Saints called a running play and it worked.  Murray burst through the line into the end zone.  For a team that will throw 1 yard touchdown passes all day long, this was a breakthrough moment.  They would grind the Lions all day.  By halftime the Saints were up 28-14 and one possession into the second half it was 35-14, and all that was left was to withstand the comeback that characterizes most NFL games.

Positives were many.  The Saints stuck with the ground game so much you’d of thought Payton had read my blog last week.  But what may have been most important was the contributions of Tre’quan Smith and Emmanuel Sanders who looked like they had finally read the same page as Brees.  Smith could have easily been the MVP of the day with two clutch catches and two TD receptions, one of which was spectacular.  So, the absence of Thomas may be a blessing in disguise, as the Saints may emerge with a more formidable passing game that is not reliant on him.  It was all a most pleasant surprise.  The vultures retreated, Kamara smiled, and the Saints now look to beat the Chargers of California before what looks like an injury healing bye week.

The hope is that this season may culminate with more than “hanging on for dear life.”

Such is life.  Such is the life of a Saints fan.