New Orleans Saints season Review: Record breaking season marred by revelation of Dark side –NFL Special Part IV
Continued from Part III
At St. Louis
No person who watched New Orleans demolition of the Indianapolis Colts could have expected anything but victory from the Saints as they faced another poor team.
The St. Louis Rams were also without a single win in the season as they came face to face with the high flying Saints and it was a foregone conclusion for most analysts that Brees would also crush the Rams.
However, what followed in the actual game was shocking.
The Saints were shut out completely in the first half of the game as St. Louis grabbed a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Rams star running back Steven Jackson galvanised the hosts with a wonderful performance as he rushed for a total of 159-yards and scored two touchdowns to defeat the mighty Saints.
Brees looked a shadow of the player who crushed the Colts and could only muster a single passing touchdown while also getting intercepted twice.
The Saints finally managed to break their duck late in the third quarter and mounted a mini comeback in the fourth quarter but it was too little too late as the Rams held on for a brilliant 31-21 win.
Coach Sean Payton did not have much to say on the defeat.
"They certainly played with more energy than we did. I just thought we looked flat."
Against Tampa Bay
With such a heavy defeat to a Rams side that had not won a single game previously hurt the pride of the Saints and they looked to right that wrong with the visit of Tampa Bay.
The Bucs had just a couple of weeks ago defeated New Orleans and the franchise was looking to avenge that loss at home.
The Saints went back to basics against the Buccaneers and a solid performance in defence kept Tampa Bay off their stride while Brees returned to doing what he does best.
The quarterback passed for two touchdowns to help his team to a much needed win.
Tampa Bay was repeatedly thrown off their stride as the Saints defence bounced back from a poor performance last week against St. Louis.
New Orleans won the game 27-16 and maintained their pole position at the top of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division.
At Atlanta
New Orleans Saints biggest rivals Atlanta Falcons were up next in week 10 and the rivalry game lived up to its billing as both teams put up one of the most intense games of the season.
The Falcons on a three game winning run were confident of getting the better of their rivals at home but for most of the game they were outplayed by the Saints.
New Orleans were up 23-13 with seven minutes remaining in the final quarter and it seemed that the game was lost.
However, the Falcons charged by a boisterous capacity crowd at the Georgia Dome fought back.
Quarterback Matt Ryan sent a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez with four minutes remaining to make it 23-20 and Matt Bryant’s last second field goal tied the scores in regulation with both teams going to overtime at 23-23.
The atmosphere made for an exciting overtime period as Atlanta Falcons took first possession of the ball.
Matt Ryan drove the Falcons forward but his pass to Mike Cox was ruled short by officials leading to a fourth down.
Normally coaches will call the kicking team out to try for a field goal rather than take the risk of losing possession by continuing the drive.
However, coach Mike Smith called his team to continue the drive. Ryan handed the ball off to Michael Turner who was stuffed by the Saints defence and gave up possession.
Brees drove the Saints forward and kicker John Kasay scored in overtime to win the game for New Orleans.
To be continued
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