It could have been déjà vu. For the fourth time in the last five Saints playoff games, the opponent scored on the last play of the game. This time it was ex-Saint Jimmy Graham who did the deed with a spectacular one-handed grab in the end zone. But, this time, it was not a heart-breaking, heart-wrenching, heart-shattering loss. It was just a slight tarnish on the Saints 21-9 victory. We’ll let Jimmy have that. No touchdowns for 59 minutes and 59 seconds is a landmark accomplishment.
It was easily the best defensive performance ever in the playoffs by New Orleans. The Bears helped by starting someone at quarterback who has frustrated Bears fans for years with his bobbing performances. The Bears didn’t convert a third down until that last, meaningless drive, and Mitchell Trubinsky looked like he just left the draft room on draft day, still stunned that he was taken ahead of Patrick Mahomes.
The Bears are good on one side of the ball, a feeling Saints fans know all too well. But, not this year. This year the Saints defense is one of the best in the NFL. I wish I could have seen them in person.
On offense, the Saints star offensive trio, the Supreme Brees, Thomas, and Kamara, got to do their “Someday, We’ll be Together” act, as the reunited offense moved the ball just enough to score three touchdowns, although they should have had four. I knew that Brees' ball extension over the goal line schtick was not going to work one day, but I figured it would be because some superstar linebacker smacked the ball out of his hands, not because the lunge came up short, like it did on the Saints last drive of the game. But, forget the Supremes for just a minute. It was Deonte Harris, who strolled off a 6 week vacation on injured reserve onto the field and sang, “What’s Going On?” to the tune of 7 receptions for 83 yards. The Bears couldn’t match his quickness. It was his best game yet as a receiver.
The Saints offense was efficient and secure, except for Taysom Hill’s weekly turnover, and were content to move the ball down the field and play for field position. Early in the game the Saints were dodging bullets like it was a bad action movie. The Bears dropped a sure touchdown pass and showed they could get penalized just when the Saints needed it. The Saints offense stalled and sputtered at times, as they couldn’t do much on the ground until late in the game. Brees didn’t play like someone on the verge of retirement, as he sliced up a very good defense just enough to win.
The Saints led 7-3 at halftime on the strength of a Michael Thomas touchdown, and it was too close for comfort for the squirmy nation of Who Dats. The one bad sign going into round two is that Wil Lutz continues to slump, as he missed his only field goal attempt. Lutzamatic has been missing in action.
But, ultimately, the Bears couldn’t move the ball, and that was enough. It will be hard for the Saints to lose a game if they only give up 9 points a game.
This time, there was tension but no anguish for Saints Fans.
Now, the Saints get a third swipe at the Tampa Brady Bucs. Brady has never lost to a team three times in one season. The Bucs look much improved over the team the Saints schooled and shellacked in previous games. You can bet it will be closer this time. Brady has two effective tight ends, and that means Malcolm Jenkins and the human torch, CJ Gardner-Johnson, will have to be at their best. CJGJ, who has been swung at more this year than Mike Tyson, continues to get under the skin of wide receivers. I wish the NFL had the guts to mike him up for a game. He must be some irritating.
And just like a boxing match, we are on to round two. Get ready for more tension. Nothing comes easy for the Saints.
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