After a loss to the New York Jets, I, as many of you, started to question just what direction was the rest of the Saints season going.
New Orleans had to get beyond Dallas, and in a stunning performance the Saints gave everyone what was almost non-existent this season: THE RUN. And what a brilliant run it was. Mark Ingram, so glad to see you back in action, brought the action, pushing harder on each and every possession. After all was said and done, Ingram had 14 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown. Proving to be a very valuable offensive weapon.
I want to say for the record, I stood behind Ingram while he was out with injury early on in the season. Shame on those who wanted to cast him out during that same time.
Pierre Thomas also had an outstanding night with 17 carries for 87 yards, one rushing touchdown and one receiving. A healthy Darren Sproles, back after suffering a concussion in the previous game against the Jets, set the tone of the game early on with a touchdown, which he followed up with a second 6-pointer later in the game. I’m hoping to see Sproles stay healthy because with him in games, Brees has a completion rate of 78.7. In contrast, when Sproles is out, Brees’ completion rate is reduced and interceptions increases.
Brees had a 15th career game with four touchdowns and no interceptions, tying Tom Brady’s record. 34/41 for 392 yards total and four touchdowns was not a bad night at all. Which brings me to what I’ve said all along: Offensive line, DO YOUR JOB and protect Brees – it pays in dividends. Hitting nine different receivers while still utilizing the run game shows just how dangerous of an offence New Orleans has.
What I liked is that the team played the full 60 minutes. With Colston going for 107 yards and the game’s first touchdown, as well as Kenny Stills catching a 52-yard pass for a touchdown in fourth, it was a great start and finish to the contest.
I wonder how Dallas is feeling about the decision to let Rob Ryan go now? I would imagine it had to sting a bit watching Rob Ryan and his Saints defence hold the boys to a total of 193 yards, Ouch! Dallas had zero completions on third down, where the Saints had 100 % on third down completions. Sucks the life right out of you, doesn’t it Jerry? I kept waiting to see Dez rally the troops with the same enthusiasm he had in the Detroit game, but much to my disappointment there were no entertaining sideline antics.
With an upcoming schedule against two viable opponents San Francisco and Seattle, New Orleans need to stay the course and continue with that same fire they had against Dallas. The road to victory can have a lot of twists, turns and bumps in it. How the Saints navigate down that road is in their hands now.
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Main Photo Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America via Zimbo.com
