Saints Sideline Blog

TEASING THE TEXANS

Monday, September 26th, 2011      Email Print

DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS,LA (23 pts.....in the 4th QTR!!)

A lot has happened since the Saints marched back in the Dome post Katrina five years ago. Michael Vick was an Atlanta Falcon, Deuce McAllister was the Saints leading rusher and a second Bush was in the White House but there is one constant---that Drew Brees guy is still behind center making anything possible. Against a Texans team which has as much talent as maybe anybody in the AFC--Brees was missing his top receiver (Colston) and two starting offensive lineman (Kreutz & Strief) but it didn't matter. In the final frame he threw for over 200 yards and despite being hit hard all afternoon he got the last punch in---a KO these Saints needed on a Dome day full of emotions.

Houston seemingly had no problems. They were running over the Saints. They were passing all over the Saints and defensively they were picking off Drew Brees and physically beating up the black and gold sending several starters to the sidelines. In the first half, Houston totaled nearly twice as many total yards as the home team. Then all of a sudden Houston had a big problem---the fourth quarter.

Down 26-17 and delivering a three and out on its first fourth quarter series---the Saints would get the ball down by nine with 11:20 left. On a day when the franchise payed homage to one of its most popular teammates in Steve Gleason who had been diagnosed with ALS earlier this year---the Saints clearly "drew" inspiration. Brees may not have blocked any punts in tribute to his former teammate who did so against Atlanta five years ago, instead the Saints quarterback blocked Houston from ruining a heartfelt day in New Orleans with a comeback for the ages.

Brees and the offense survived its slow start and sure benefited from a defense that was bent but never broken in keeping the Texans out of the end zone and holding them to four field goals in their six trips inside the redzone. It set the tone for the best fourth quarter in franchise history. Drew told me afterwards they had been keeping the no-huddle game plan in their back pocket all afternoon---well they pulled it out just in time.

If any player personified the Saints plight it was the ever maturing tight end Jimmy Graham. He didn't catch a ball in the 1st half and ran a poor route in the 3rd quarter leading to Brees' second interception. But just like his team, Graham picked things up in the fourth quarter. First he scored a TD to cut the lead to 26-24. Then on the final drive with the Saints backed up on its 7 yard line, Graham again came up big on 3rd & 10 where he and Brees combined for a 28 yard connection which set the tone for the comeback. Payton and Brees told me afterwards that they are hard on Graham because they see so much potential in him--that potential was for all to see on Sunday where he tallied his first 100 yard receiving game, averaging 25 yards a catch.
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So on a day where the Saints went retro honoring the black and gold uni's of the 1960's, the play nearly went retro as well. Payton said afterwards, "In the 1st half we played like the 1967 Saints." Clearly under Payton these aren't your granddaddy's Saints anymore--he has delivered a culture post Katrina where this team has often found a way to win. On a day where they started slow and didn't play its best football, these Saints still come away with a victory. Its good to remember the past, but this franchise is certainly enjoying the present.

WHO DAT HITS

SALUTE TO STEVE: An emotional game but the most emotions were saved for former Saints safety Steve Gleason. Drew Brees told me his blocked punt against the Falcons five years ago "might forever be the most significant play in the history of our organization." Gleason who despite being diagnosed with ALS has kept fighting recently finishing his MBA at Tulane. His attitude is clearly an inspiration to the Saints. Gleason was given the game ball afterwards and was escorted by Brees to deliver the pregame Who Dat chant---the perfect beginning to a day which had a perfect ending.

BREES BONUS: Drew"s 3rd QTR TD pass to Robert Meachem was the 30th straight game with a TD toss--that ties Dan Marino for the third best streak of all time. Johnny Unitas holds the all-time record with 47 straight. It was also Meachem's 20th career TD catch.

MOORE OF LANCE: Brees told me Lance Moore is a "stud" after this one. Number 16 collects a 16 yard TD pass which gave the Saints its first lead of the game. Moore also had two-two point conversions on the same route and led the Saints with 9 catches.

iNGRAM'S INAUGURAL: With all his time spent in the endzone during the preseason, it was hard to believe it was Mark Ingram's 1st career regular season TD versus the Texans. Ingram made his first one count putting the Saints in the lead for good---Payton inferred afterwards that his rookie running back continues to get more comfortable with his offense.

DEUCE IS LOOSE ON CST: We appreciate having 1on1 access to Drew Brees on all our Saints Tonight postgame shows--now we are glad to have Deuce McAlister who joins us for his unique perspective. After this game Deuce tells us its hard to believe the post-Katrina game was five years ago where he will never forget the emotional video Sean Payton showed the team inside the Dome the night before the game.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT: Injuries are a part of football and every team deals with them but the Saints are more than coping with their losses. Sean Payton wouldn't speculate on the severity of any of the injuries but think about this---the Saints 4th qtr comeback comes with the following starters on the sidelines---Jonathan Vilma, Olin Kreutz, Zack Strief, Tracy Porter, Martez WIlson and WIll Herring.

UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors
CST

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

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