You hear each week talk about this Saints team is scoring 39 points per game, and I think the myth initially is that the offense is scoring all those points. The reality of it is that there are turnovers involved in there. There’s a lot that goes into a number like that that can get skewed,” said Saints head coach Sean Payton Tuesday. “So the takeaways have been significant. When you can take the ball away and protect it, your chances of winning obviously go up.”
The Saints defense has 18 takeaways and have scored on five of those directly, including twice on Sunday at Miami. “Those plays are big because you just never know if you don’t have that play, how the momentum swings in your favor,” says running back Reggie Bush who scored a highlight touchdown of his own. “The fact that our defense is scoring points for us is great and it’s really given us a lot of momentum and a lot of drive and determination.”
The win also may have answered the last big question for the 2009 Saints. How would they deal when finally faced with adversity? ”It’s a blessing in disguise when something happens like that because a lot of teams would have been down that many points and be like aw you’re panicked then they hit the panic button, turmoil would have been on the sidelines, people would have pointed fingers, and next thing you know the game is over with and everybody would have been bitter for the next week.,” says tight end Jeremy Shockey. “One game could have cost you tow three games like Atlanta or another game because you’re still thinking about that last game and bitching about it. IT’s great that a game happened like that, that we showed poise. ”
“Well we’ve had now a close game against Buffalo, blew it out late, then a game like this against the Dolphins, we feel like we can play any type of game,” said linebacker Jonathan Vilma Tuesday. “Whether it’s a blowout or a close game going into the fourth or if we’re down, either way we’re going to find a way to win. ”
BUMPS AND BRUISES
Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and fullback Heath Evan were injured Sunday at Miami. Head coach Sean Payton on Tuesday said he would not be updating their conditions until the league mandated injury report needs to be given on Thursday. Ellis is believed to have sprained his right knee and Evans suffered a leg injury.
Payton said he would also update the status of linebacker Scott Fujita on Thursday as well, Fujita missed the Dolphins game with a calf strain.
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