http://sportsnola.com/dont-overrate-saints-recent-success/
[h=2]Don’t overrate Saints recent success[/h]
Drew Brees and the Saints have given their fans reason for optimism in recent weeks (Photo: Parker Waters).
NEW ORLEANS – It’s only natural for Who Dat Nation to get giddy over their heroes’ two-game winning streak. But it’s my sworn duty as president emeritus of the Eternal Pessimist Club to bring folks back down to earth and put things in perspective.
Beating the previously undefeated Atlanta Falcons in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome is one thing. That was a quality win, against a formidable opponent, coming on a national stage.
Beating the vastly overrated Indianapolis Colts – a team in disarray with an embattled head coach — is quite another.
On this day, the final score and quarterback Andrew Luck’s statistics were terribly misleading. Yes. the Colts rallied from a 27-0 deficit before eventually losing, 27-21. And yes, Luck finished with 333 passing yards and three TDs.
But for the first 41 minutes, Luck seemed overwhelmed, frustrated and totally confused by Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s passive/aggressive, mix-and-match game plan and ill-equipped to solve the inspired play of a young, improving defensive unit. Luck threw two INTs and was sacked four times and hurried numerous other times.
Luck also didn’t look fully recovered from a sprained throwing shoulder that sidelined him in Weeks 4 and 5, which played well into Ryan’s scheme.
Until scoring passes of 87 and 46 yards from Luck to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton late in the third quarter (Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux slipped down on both plays), Ryan’s defense had been pitching a shutout against the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft who led the Colts into last season’s AFC championship game against New England.
Of the six QBs the Saints previously faced this season, I would rank Luck behind Carson Palmer, Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Sam Bradford and Matt Ryan and ahead of only Dallas Cowboys backup Brandon Weeden in terms of game-day performance.
Another reason to hold off saying the Saints have turned the corner on their season: At 3-4, the Colts are the first team with a losing record to lead a division after seven games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
Even the NFL South couldn’t lay claim to that dubious distinction a year ago, although the Carolina Panthers stood 3-3-1 after seven games en route to winning the division at 7-8-1.
So now, the Black and Gold has climbed back into the playoff picture, albeit the NFC wildcard hunt because the aforementioned Panthers (6-0) and Falcons (6-1) remain entrenched at the top of the NFC South.
It is what it is.
The Saints just need to keep sawing wood, continuing Sunday at home against the NFC East-leading New York Giants (4-3). A win against the G-Men would make it three straight and elevate the Saints to 4-4, unthinkable only a month ago after opening the season 0-3, including an inexplicable home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.
Keep in mind, the Saints reached the .500 mark at 4-4 the day before Halloween last season with a 28-10 win at Carolina on national TV. Then, they self destructed, losing to Cincinnati, Baltimore and San Francisco at home, eventually finishing 7-9.
I’ll leave you with this thought: It speaks volumes about the Saints’ current position in the NFL when a two-game winning streak and getting to the .500 mark at mid-season for a second consecutive year has Who Dat Nation all in atwitter.
Atwitter … as in nervously excited, not a posting on the social media website.
Oh, the times they are a changin’.
[h=2]Don’t overrate Saints recent success[/h]
- October 29, 2015 - 1:30 PM CDT
- Posted by: Brian Allee-Walsh
- Category: Saints
NEW ORLEANS – It’s only natural for Who Dat Nation to get giddy over their heroes’ two-game winning streak. But it’s my sworn duty as president emeritus of the Eternal Pessimist Club to bring folks back down to earth and put things in perspective.
Beating the previously undefeated Atlanta Falcons in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome is one thing. That was a quality win, against a formidable opponent, coming on a national stage.
Beating the vastly overrated Indianapolis Colts – a team in disarray with an embattled head coach — is quite another.
On this day, the final score and quarterback Andrew Luck’s statistics were terribly misleading. Yes. the Colts rallied from a 27-0 deficit before eventually losing, 27-21. And yes, Luck finished with 333 passing yards and three TDs.
But for the first 41 minutes, Luck seemed overwhelmed, frustrated and totally confused by Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s passive/aggressive, mix-and-match game plan and ill-equipped to solve the inspired play of a young, improving defensive unit. Luck threw two INTs and was sacked four times and hurried numerous other times.
Luck also didn’t look fully recovered from a sprained throwing shoulder that sidelined him in Weeks 4 and 5, which played well into Ryan’s scheme.
Until scoring passes of 87 and 46 yards from Luck to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton late in the third quarter (Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux slipped down on both plays), Ryan’s defense had been pitching a shutout against the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft who led the Colts into last season’s AFC championship game against New England.
Of the six QBs the Saints previously faced this season, I would rank Luck behind Carson Palmer, Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Sam Bradford and Matt Ryan and ahead of only Dallas Cowboys backup Brandon Weeden in terms of game-day performance.
Another reason to hold off saying the Saints have turned the corner on their season: At 3-4, the Colts are the first team with a losing record to lead a division after seven games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
Even the NFL South couldn’t lay claim to that dubious distinction a year ago, although the Carolina Panthers stood 3-3-1 after seven games en route to winning the division at 7-8-1.
So now, the Black and Gold has climbed back into the playoff picture, albeit the NFC wildcard hunt because the aforementioned Panthers (6-0) and Falcons (6-1) remain entrenched at the top of the NFC South.
It is what it is.
The Saints just need to keep sawing wood, continuing Sunday at home against the NFC East-leading New York Giants (4-3). A win against the G-Men would make it three straight and elevate the Saints to 4-4, unthinkable only a month ago after opening the season 0-3, including an inexplicable home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.
Keep in mind, the Saints reached the .500 mark at 4-4 the day before Halloween last season with a 28-10 win at Carolina on national TV. Then, they self destructed, losing to Cincinnati, Baltimore and San Francisco at home, eventually finishing 7-9.
I’ll leave you with this thought: It speaks volumes about the Saints’ current position in the NFL when a two-game winning streak and getting to the .500 mark at mid-season for a second consecutive year has Who Dat Nation all in atwitter.
Atwitter … as in nervously excited, not a posting on the social media website.
Oh, the times they are a changin’.
