It was the third straight week the Saints had to come back to win. It was the first time all season the offense failed to score a touchdown in the first half. It was the second straight week the Saints gave up over a hundred yards to an opposing rusher. “I do think we can play a lot better than we played yesterday. And I’m not just saying that because it’s time to come in here and throw water on a party. I thought it was sloppy yesterday. If we had played well and won it would be one thing, but we didn’t,” said head coach Sean Payton who repeatedly expressed frustration with his team’s recent play during his weekly Monday morning press conference. “It’s frustrating because as a coach the first thing you look at is yourself. If what we’re seeing on film is what we’re coaching, it becomes an indictment on us. We have to get some things cleaned up and we have to do that before we sit in here and say it finally cost us a game. I really mean that.”
The Saints were again able to overcome mistakes to win, helped by big plays in the passing game and by the defense. Quarterback Drew Brees hit receiver Devery Henderson for 63 yards, setting up a Pierre Thomas touchdown. Brees then hit receiver Robert Meachem 54 yards for a touchdown on the next possession in the third quarter. The defense came up with stops when needed and defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove stripped Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams, scooped up the ball and scored to extend a three point lead into a ten with just over two minutes to play.
Still the mistakes made by the Saints are what’s keeping the head coach from smiling. “We made a lot of mistakes in that game that after watching the tape, there are a lot of areas that we can improve on and that’s where our focus will be on Wednesday,” Payton said. “We gave up the big run defensively and I don’t think we tackled as well as we would’ve liked. Offensively, we had the two turnovers, we had dropped passes, we had penalties, one on a third down play that was going to convert, and set us up for a touchdown and we had to kick a field goal.”
Saints fans are relishing the fact that their team can work on getting better while winning, and while being one of two undefeated teams in the NFL. The Saints are 8-0, equaling the same number of wins of a season ago in half the time. The Saints have a three game lead on their closest competitor in the NFC South and have a very good shot of playing into January. Still the goal is simple. Take it one game at a time and correct the mistakes that are making these last three games closer then they need to be.
“We’re halfway through the season. I think it’s a very competitive NFC right now when you watch the games unfold. We’re seeing a lot of good football teams that are going to be playing well here in November. I think our emphasis is to play well in this month in December and to get better,” says Payton. ”That will be easy to point out on Wednesday. I look forward to getting these guys back with us. Part of you wishes they were coming in today to clean up the mistakes, but I think the rest is just as important for them mentally and physically. We’ll have a good workout Wednesday.”
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