The Saints 28-23 win at St. Louis wasn’t pretty, but once again Sean Payton’s team was able to overcome and remain unbeaten at 9-0.
Playing without starters Sedrick Ellis, Jabari Greer, and Darren Sharper, the Saints lost yet another starter to injury. Starting cornerback Tracy Porter was hit by safety Usama Young who was going for a tackle. Young’s leg whipped on the left knee of Porter who was trailing the play and was carted away in the 3rd quarter.
As in the previous three weeks, St. Louis found success against the Saints run defense. Stephen Jackson led the way with 131 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown.
Turnovers again were a problem as the Saints gave St. Louis the ball three times. Quarterback Drew Brees was picked off twice and receiver Marques Colston fumbled trying to stretch the ball over the goal line following a catch. Brees again seemed to not have his A-game finishing 18 of 26 for 223 yards to with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
While most of the play from the team wearing black pants and white jerseys was ugly, a pair of Saints produced some big plays.
Running back Reggie Bush scored twice, his first multi-touchdown game in over a year, and Courtney Roby did something no Saints player has done in five years. Bush scored on a 3 yard run and 15 yard catch and run. The former Heisman winner, who had a 55 yard run in the game, finished with 83 yards. Roby returned the opening kick of the second half 96 yards for a touchdown. The last Saints player to do such a feat, Michael Lewis back in 2004.
Questionable clock management and play calling kept the Rams in the game in the second half. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger heaved a last second pass into the end zone only to have it batted away as the clock hit zero. A catch however would have handed the Saints a loss.
It was ugly. It was a win. But a game here, a game there is one thing, the Saints have played sloppy, careless football for four straight games now. True the fact that they still win is a testament of just how good the Saints are this season, still if the club has any hopes of truly achieving something special, the Saints must get things corrected of their first loss of the season will be mild in comparison to blowing a tremendous opportunity this season.
Related posts: