Saints Report #15 - Christmas Day 2020

Christmas did not come too late for Alvin and the Road Graters.

December football is different.  By this time of year, the war of attrition has thinned the ranks, and the game that was exotic and fancy in the first three quarters of the season has transitioned into one of power and dominance, best exhibited by a pound and ground running game.

The Saints unleashed their version on the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day to the tune of a 52-33 pasting that was only ensured with a 21 point 4th quarter..  Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with 6 touchdowns as the Saints never punted.  They rammed the ball down the Vikings throat drive after drive in the rarest of NFL occurrences – a Friday game – on Christmas.  Kamara showcased his skills to a national TV audience, and it was quite the Christmas display.  The 6 rushing touchdowns in a game is a record that has stood since 1929, the longest NFL record on the books.  Kamara finished with 155 yards rushing, his personal best, and he now has 20 touchdowns on the season. Right now he's the best running back in the league, and given the absences of Brees and Michael Thomas, should be a bonafide MVP candidate.

Did you ever think that you would see the Saints score 52, and not a single point come from a Brees’ touchdown pass?  Well, it happened.  The Saints offensive line was a juggernaut, clearing massive holes for Kamara and Latavius Murray to the tune of 256 yards rushing.  This was a game where the passing game complimented the running game instead of vice versa.  The Saints probably could have won this game without throwing a single pass, that’s how dominant they were.  If not for 2 Brees’ interceptions, one of which was definitely not his fault as it glanced off Emmanuel Sanders for a pick, the Saints might have hung 60.  In fact, Kamara could have set an all-time record with 7 touchdowns, had not Sean Payton chosen to get Taysom Hill in on the action.  So, ten drives resulted in 7 touchdowns, 1 field goal and two turnovers.  We now know that an NFL team could score 70 points on a perfect day. 

The Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs, which had to be some measure of revenge for Payton, as the Vikings have bounced the Saints two of the last 3 years.  The Saints defense slowed Dalvin Cook much better than in last year’s playoff, but giving up 37 is not something to go have a parade over. 

And finally, this game socked away the Saints’ fourth straight division title.  With a win next week at Carolina, the Saints can finish off the first ever sweep of the NFC South.  I expect in the next few days Payton will be weighing the merits of that achievement vs giving Brees more rest and giving Jameis Winston a start.  If he chooses to rest Brees, and Brees retires as expected after the season, he will go down as the first quarterback to pass for 80,000 yards, a record he set during this game.  A nice little 4 or 5 game winning streak to finish his career would be the icing on the cake.  IF the Saints continue to RUN THE BALL, it’s entirely possible.