Saints Report #5 - October 12, 2020

A Pothole that swallows your car
A diet of Roast Beef Po-Boys
A Scary movie
Living in a hurricane cone
Eating fried foods
Being a Saints Fan

These are Things that are bad for your heart.

The Saints beat the Somewhere-in-California Chargers in overtime 30-27 on Monday Night Football in the typical Saints play-just-barely-well-enough-to-win victory.  Apparently Louisiana voodoo was pointed straight at the poor Chargers kicker Michael Badgly who missed an extra point and clanked the ball off the upright with what would have been the winning field goal as the fourth quarter came to an end. 

It was the 37^th fourth quarter comeback win for Brees, who always relishes his victories over the Chargers, since they jettisoned him with a broken wing.  Of course, one of the ways you get a lot of comeback wins is to be behind a lot, and the Saints first half was as lackluster as a Hallmark movie.  It was looking like the Saints had forgotten how to matriculate the ball down the field.  No matriculation at all.  Matriculation absent.  Devoid of matriculation.

So the Saints fell behind 20-3 and Brees finally put together a drive and snuck the ball in from the one as the first half expired after what looked like an extended argument with Payton over the play call.  Then the Saints started clawing their way back in the second half.  The defense decided that they were not going to be known as the typical star-making-of-a-young quarterback Saints team, and began to slow Justin Herbert, who looks like the real deal.  The Saints finally began matriculating as Brees began picking the Chargers defense apart.  It was like old times as he engineered the tying drives.  The Saints successfully matriculated and scored a couple of times.  The game moved to overtime after the clank.  The Saints, who had won the toss, looked like they were going to drive for a winning touchdown, but the drive stalled and the Saints had to settle for a Lutzomatic field goal.  The Saints defense stiffened and Marshawn Lattimore who had been toasted with butter a few times already came up with a game-sealing 4^th down tackle to end the Chargers night.

So, the Saints go into the bye with two weeks to get their matriculations in order.  They’ve gone 3-2 with no Michael “Tyson” Thomas and are tied at the top of the division with the Brady Bucs.   In this game Brees went 33-47 for 325 yards.  In his Super Bowl win 10 years ago he went 32-39 for 288 yards.  Despite all the fan and media consternation about arm strength, Brees is still pretty good.  He’s efficient and smart.  The thing I notice about his arm strength is it’s still there, when his feet are planted and he can load up and use his whole body, and nobody has better footwork than him.  But, the miracle off-balance throw is no longer in his rep.  He knows how to stay in games, and he knows how to win games.  When the game is on the line and you need that drive to win or tie, the odds are high that he will matriculate the ball down the field in a way that would make Hank Stram proud, although I still wish they would run the ball more.  Let’s take a week off.  Our hearts need it.  

 

Saints Report # 4 - October 2, 2016

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky.

Sometimes the ball just bounces your way.

Sometimes you steal a game.

Sometimes you just owe your franchise quarterback a meaningful win.

Sunday at about 6 PM all those things came together and the Saints willingly accepted the gifts the San Diego Chargers were giving, and made the most of them in squeezing out a 35 – 34 victory that looked impossible with 6 minutes to go.

It was about then that the Chargers went all Saint-like and committed 3 turnovers in a row.  Brees and the Saints properly capitalized, wiping out a 13-point lead.   This was a game that was certifiably weird in three distinct ways.  First, Brees did not play his best, with uncharacteristic wildness and turnovers.  Secondly, running back Mark Ingram probably had his best game as a Saint – not statistically mind you, but in some clutch impact plays, particularly pass receptions.  And lastly, the Saints defense suddenly turned into world beaters with 6 minutes left, after 3 and a half quarters of normal.  Hell, the Saints even added in a decent running game for the first time all year.

So after another 0 for September, the Saints avoid a bye week with an 0 – 4 anchor around their neck. Maybe the Saints can feel good about themselves at 1 – 3, the same as the Super Bowl Carolina Panthers.  Let’s just bask in the glory of an improbable win for 2 weeks. And let's put a thank you note in the mail.