Saints Report #6 - October 21, 2018

Blasphemy.  I’m going to speak football blasphemy here, but I’m beginning to think that the New Orleans Saints play their best football when they are behind.  Case in point was Sunday when the Saints entered the 4^th quarter at Baltimore down 17 – 7.  The Ravens had not given up a second half touchdown all year.  In other words, the Saints had them right where they wanted them, and that’s exactly what I was thinking.  No problem.

The Saints had persistently run the ball all day, butting heads with the NFL’s leading scoring defense.  Sean Payton had a great game plan, and stuck to it softening up their line.   It all started with the Saints first drive of the game, when the 22 play drive included 4 4^th down “go for its.” As the 4^th quarter started, he turned Brees and the passing game loose, resulting in 17 unanswered points and the lead.  In keeping with my theory, it seems the defense suddenly locked in – at least until the Ravens last drive which was too easy, and the Ravens only had to kick the extra point to send the game to a probable overtime. 

That one of the best kickers in the game, Justin Tucker, missed his first extra point ever to give the Saints a 24-23 win doesn’t bother me at all.  Too many times the Saints have fallen victim to lady luck.  Fortunately for the Saints, Tucker is so good that kicker Wil Lutz couldn’t unseat him, delivering him to New Orleans.

What does bother me (just a little) is the Saints are getting no recognition for their 5-1 record, as the Marvelous Mr. Brees seems to always be overshadowed, or beaten by things that happen when he is not on the field (Minneapolis Miracle, Bountygate.)  He is quietly having his most efficient season, leading the league in QB rating, and still hasn’t thrown an interception, ahead of headline makers Patrick Maholmes, and Jared Goff.  It has become a forgone conclusion that their teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Back in Los Angeles Rams will meet in the Super Bowl. 

Maybe they will, but they better not fall behind the New Orleans Saints.

Saints Report #11

Random Thoughts as I watched the Saints on Monday Night Football.

Can’t believe all these pundits are picking the Saints to win this game.  I know none of them watch the Saints, but surely they’ve heard how bad we are.

When Ray Lewis is the one talking sense on the panel, it’s time to re-load your panel.  Who’s retiring this year?
Suzy Kolber has lightened her hair color.
I haven’t looked at www.kissingsuzykolber.com for a long time.  Wonder if it’s still up.
The Saints will receive the kick.  I think they know they will need all the possessions they can get.
So glad to see Joe Morgan on the field finally. 
Not that I wanted to see Meachum get hurt, but let’s see what Morgan to do.
Wow, 2 big plays.  Wonder how many targets he’ll get now.  (Answer – he would ultimately get 13 snaps)  Payton must be worried about his stamina.  Why play someone who’s shown game breaking ability?
The Saints can’t run the ball at all, which will make for a long night.
First and goal from the 2 and we don’t score.
Well as I always say, if you can’t run it for a yard, you don’t deserve to win.
Thus – the last 2 weeks.
Normally I want us to run the ball, but this mismatch is rather obvious.  We can’t.
But it is good to see Pierre Thomas breaking tackles.  As bad as we tackle he must score on every play in practice.
Speaking of Pierre’s, I was really surprised to see Pierre Warren cut in training camp.  He seemed to be a playmaker.  And there he is making a takeaway. 
The only thing Marcus Ball has taken so far is his salary, but he beat Warren out?
Speaking of questionable personnel decisions....
Wait, is that a Nick Toon sighting?  By the end of the night he will make his 7^th catch in 3 years.  Quite a return for a 4^th round pick.  I think he has dropped that many passes as well.  A wasted “bloodline” draft pick.
If that was a logical draft pick, based on his dad being Nick Toon, then someone needs to offer me a job as an electrical engineer.
I’ve missed two straight episodes of “The Good Wife” and maybe this is a good time to catch up.
Obama is about to grant a 3 year stay to 5 million immigrants.  Surely, there’s one that can cover Steve Smith.
Sure am glad I don’t live in Baltimore right now.  I’d have to take tomorrow off to hide.
Speaking of Obama, I wonder if he could pardon our defense.
Starting with David Hawthorne who drops an interception served up on a silver platter.  I don’t care what anyone says, are Linebackers are AWOT.  Absent without tackle.
Why does no one ever drop a potential Brees interception?  They gobble them up and run them back like they haven’t eaten for a week.
Does anyone else notice that Brees keeps his helmet on after he throws an interception?
I’m really starting to like Taylor Swift
Texts are coming in from across the country.  Rubbing it in.  Haters gonna hate.
How many hours is it til we can eat turkey?
This Edibaldi guy really hustles.  He seems to catch people from behind.  Of course, he gets lots of opportunities to do that.
Has Rob Ryan ever blitzed just one person?  Does he have to send everybody when he blitzes?  Have we touched Flaco tonight?
Does anyone else see the similarities between Bill Cosby and Darren Sharper?
Other than the fact that either could start for our defense?
Wondering if I should give Homeland another try?  Heard it’s getting better.

Brees finishes an amazing 35 for 45 with 420 yards and 3 TD’s, with no running game support and no defense, but that one interception as he was getting hit is what we will remember.  Wonder where we would be without him?  Wonder where we would be if we had the Raven’s defense. Wonder who wrote the book of love.

Tomorrow everyone will be talking about all the teams in the AFC North being 3 games over .500 and all of the NFC South being 3 games under .500.  Duh, they play each other.  No one in our division matches up with that big brawny division.  Don’t get all excited.  They aren’t that good and we aren’t that bad.  For example, bet we’d match up pretty well with Division I. 

Whew, glad that homestand is over.  Now we can get back on the road where we play so well.  Here’s reality – if we win out against our division, I’m going to have to spring for playoff tickets.  I’m going to have to think about that.

Oh well, there’s Turkey in my future.  Lots of it.