Saints Report #15 - December 23, 2018

Raucous.  You know the Superdome is loud when the announcers are having to yell over the noise.  Sunday's game, won by the Saints over the Steelers 31-28, lived up to the advanced billing, the importance, and the growing reputation of the Superdome as the most difficult place to visit in sports.

The Steelers faced an unheard-of situation.  They came into the game leading their division by a half game (or whatever a tie game represents) but a loss could mean they don’t make the playoffs.  So, the Steelers came, they saw, and they fumbled.  Two fourth quarter fumbles proved costly.  One happened before, and one after a decision to run a fake punt on a fourth and five at midfield.  The Steelers only gained 4 of the 5 yards they needed, turning the ball over back to Drew Brees and the Saints offense who were down 28-24.

The Saints drove down and Michael Thomas caught a touchdown pass just under the 2 minute mark.

Ben Roethlisberger, who was brilliant all day, drove the ball effectively with no timeouts left, only to have Ju Ju Smith-Schuster fumble after a catch.  The Saints have one glaring vulnerability – trouble covering two elite wide receivers, and Smith-Schuster and Antonio Brown lit them up all night.But the defense continued to force fumbles

The Steelers scored 28 against a Saints defense that has been brilliant over the last 6 games.  The Saints scored in bunches.  When the Steelers tied the game at 14 late in the first half, it took Brees and mostly Alvin Kamara only 40 seconds to drive into field goal range, which Wil Lutz converted for the 3 points that would eventually be the difference.  Since the Saints had deferred at coin toss, they took the opening kickoff and drove down for a touchdown to take a 10 point lead at 24-14.  Then the offense slumbered til the last drive of the game.  The Steelers dominated the second half and took a 28-24 lead until they lined up to punt and made the controversial decision to try to preserve their possession. 

Thus the Saints preserve their top seed in the NFC with a 13-2 record.  They secured home field advantage until the Super Bowl.  They should be able to rest some starters next week, although there’s also a shot at their best regular season record in franchise history.  They will probably rest Drew Brees against Carolina in the closer, providing a showcase for Teddy Bridgewater.  This also allows them to rest most of the banged up offensive line, giving them 3 weeks to heal up.

The case for Drew Brees as MVP has now been made.  The Saints got Ted Ginn back from injured reserve and it was a huge addition.  Brees has been throwing to the great Michael Thomas and 2 rookie wide receivers: the drafted Tre’quan Smith and the undrafted Keith Kirkwood.  It looks like Kirkwood has supplanted Austin Carr in the lineup, and Tommylee Lewis has not contributed.  The tight ends have been sporadic at best.  Who has ever heard of a team playing this well with 2 rookies at wide receiver?   The productivity of the offense is Brees, Moore and Alvin Kamara.   Sean Payton usually doesn’t play rookies, much less two of them in this super complicated offense.  Allegedly, Brees calls three plays in the huddle and picks the one to he wants at the line.  So, what Brees has done with this inexperienced receiving corps is a marvel.  

The next time the Saints leave town, could be, should be to travel to the Super Bowl.

Let's go.

Saints Report #12

Don’t ask me.

If I knew when the Saints were going to show up and play a football game like that, I’d be living in Vegas and making a living with my knowledge.

But I did figure out how they did it.  Time travel.  That was the 2009 Saints that won that game.  Only possible explanation.

The Saints, (off a short week after Monday Night Football) traveled to Pittsburgh (off a bye week) and bounced the Steelers all over the field en route to a 35 – 32 victory that was only close because the Steelers scored 2 touchdowns late.  If you saw this coming, move to Vegas.

During the Thanksgiving Family Holiday we watched two things that set this up.

One night on Netflix I introduced the family to the classic Star Trek episode “City on the Edge of Forever.”  Captain Kirk and Spock have to travel back in time to undo the damage McCoy has done by changing history.  Written by famed science fiction writer Harlan Ellison, this is generally considered the best original Star Trek episode.

Then, another night we rented “Edge of Tomorrow” about a soldier, played by Tom Cruise, who keeps reliving the same day over and over.  One of the best movies of the year.

Great time travel stuff.

So Sunday, the Saints offense, defense, and special teams all played like they were in a time warp. 

It started with Drew Brees, who played mistake free, this time with the support of a running game.  He threw at all-stars like Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu with no hesitation and ended the day with another 5 touchdown game.   When I listen to the idiots who think Brees is done, I want to throw them in a time machine and sentence them to a life where the quarterback is always named Bobby Joe.

I knew I was in an alternate universe when the normally-invisible-except-when-he’s-dropping-a-pass  Nick Toon even barreled his way into the end zone for his first career touchdown.  I get the impression that Payton thinks Toon is their next Marques Colston.  I don’t see it, but what do I know.

The secondary played their best game of the year, picking off Roethlisburger twice just when he was looking like an MVP candidate.

The Saints got off to a slow start as Patrick Robinson (3 possible interceptions) Toon and Colston (who would later score) all dropped the ball early.  But, just when you thought it was going to be a long day, the Saints clicked.  Even Kenny Vacarro, who has been a disappointment this year, made as many big plays (including an interception) as he did drawing penalties.  It was as impressive as it was unexpected.

Now comes the test.  Four games to go.  Which team will show up week to week?  Wish I had a hot tub time machine so I would know ahead of time. Don’t look now, but if this starts a little winning streak, the Saints could win the division, play a home playoff game, and scare some teams that have been very good all year.  Remember when the Giants went 9-7 and rolled through the playoffs?  There’s precedent.  It’s not how you start the race, it’s how you finish it.  And a time machine helps.