Are Saints a team of destiny?

[2 Comment(s)]

By Christopher Gordy

In the NFL, good teams tend to have an occasional letdown game. But the New Orleans Saints found a way to win that letdown game. Last Sunday, the New Orleans Saints (6-0) rallied from an awful first half of football to defeat the Miami Dolphins (2-4), 46-34.

The undefeated Saints trailed by 21 points late in the second quarter before quarterback Drew Brees dove into the end zone on a one yard touchdown to cut the halftime deficit to 14. Despite four turnovers by Brees (three interceptions and a fumble), he was able to hang in and put together huge drives in the second half.

The Saints defense had a rough time trying to stop Miami's rushing attack in the first half, allowing a 68-yard touchdown run to Ricky Williams and an 8-yard touchdown run to Ronnie Brown. But the defense made key plays, including a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown by Darren Sharper to begin the second half.

Cornerback Tracy Porter sealed the victory with a 54-yard interception return for a touchdown with under two minutes to play. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma had a team-high 10 tackles in the game, while backup defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove recorded two sacks.

Brees rebounded from an awful day to finish with 298 passing yards and three touchdowns (2 rushing). Brees was also sacked five times. Running back Mike Bell helped open up the Saints offense in the second half, breaking off a 35-yard run to force the Dolphins defense to respect the run and the pass. Colston hauled in five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown while tight end Jeremy Shockey caught four passes for 105 yards. Reggie Bush also rebounded from a miserable day to take a triple reverse 10-yard run into the end zone.

This game was, perhaps, exactly what the Saints needed. After putting up one impressive victory after another to start the season, the Saints found themselves trailing for the first time all year in this game. Still, the resiliency of the team and the fight to win proved to be all they needed to record yet another double-digit victory. The Saints outgained the Dolphins in total yardage 414-334.

As the Saints look forward, they will face another tough task as they host the division rival Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome for a Monday Night Football matchup. The Falcons dropped to 4-2 on the season after losing to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, 37-21. Quarterback Matt Ryan and team will be hungry for a victory, while the Saints learned not to take any team lightly as they keep their unblemished record alive.

If anything, having to rally from behind late was a good learning experience for the Saints moving forward. If New Orleans can continue to put up big numbers offensively each week, and the defense continues to play aggressive and force turnovers, the Saints may be in for a special season. While Saints fans may have been humbled by last week's tight game, it is important to remember that it is in fact a 16 game season.

With 10 games left to play, the Saints' future is still unknown. But with games against Tampa Bay, Carolina and St. Louis looming, the Saints have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot earlier than most teams in the league. However, the win over the Dolphins reminds us all how important it is to take it one game at a time. And beware of throwing the word "Super Bowl" around prematurely. Though, the outlook is promising.

Originally Published: Issue 821 - October 28, 2009

Share on Facebook

Back to the top