Image Credit to Michael C. Hebert / NewOrleansSaints.com
Well, public opinion was riding high for the once maligned post Drew Brees New Orleans Saints who suddenly started a year like a raging 2006 Chicago Bears powerhouse blowing out their first two opponents of the 2024 season posting back-to-back 40 burgers while limiting foes to under 20.
That all changed on Sunday with an Eagles defense clearly prepared to stop Derek Carr’s hot streak of 91 total points and a completion percentage of 75% through two games, not to mention holding Alvin Kamara and company under 100 yards after a 115 yard outing vs the Cowboys. One thing that stood out to me about this performance was the play of the secondary doing its job downfield against the Eagles getting two turnovers and assisting in two fourth down stops for a total of 4 defensive turnovers even if the point was moot given the stellar play of Philly’s offense line. The defense continues to look stout and that’s good news with an offense that now comes back down to earth to it’s week to week questionablility. Yes Derek Carr looks like Derek Carr again, Shrug. We won’t be so quit to pass the judgement though with one bad game and not give credit to Klint Kubiak for being human. He is human.
While Philly’s D deserves some credit for limiting the newly found Derek Carr deep ball, the game ball here goes to the aforementioned offense line of Philly for protecting Jalen Hurts. The Saints did squeeze in a couple of sacks in critical situations, but it proved not to be enough in a game the Saints failed to break away offensively. With neither team scoring through 2 and a half quarters and the Saints leading 3-0, the black and gold defense surrendered a 61 catch and run to Dallas Goeddart setting up a first and goal on the Saints 5 yard line. That resulted later in a 7-6 Eagles lead.
The Saints would come and answer, but fail on a two point attempt which would have made it a full touchdown lead. Later, the Saints would falter once more and Eagles RB Saquon Barkley would take full advance sprinting across a gaping middle of the field for a 65 yard TD late. A two point attempt after touchdown was good.
Now, heading into a pivotal divisional matchup with the “dirty bird” Atlanta Falcons, the Saints will have to content with a slew of injuries despite holding Taysom out to get him 100%. It looks as though that will happen but at the cost of Alvin Kamara, Alontae Taylor, Demario Davis, and Caesar Ruiz all missing practice (OUCH to Demario), along with Landon Young, Khaylon Saunders, Demarco Jackson, and Derek Carr all being limited. The Saints offense thrives greatly on deception, which Taysom provides with his decoy ability even if he doesn’t show up on the stats sheet and holding him out could have played a role in this weeks struggles.
I’d look for another struggle unless multiple guys can come out of practice healthy or Klint Kubiak can dial up a similar masterclass like the one we saw against Dallas because Atlanta’s offensive line is ranked second in the league ahead of the Eagles and the defense possibility missing it’s quarterback out there this Sunday.
Who Dat! Geaux Saints.
Jake's Sports Corner 