Welcome everyone to another edition of #4Downs!
1st Down: Defense Keeps Improving
After last week’s stellar efforts against the Atlanta Falcons, the Saints defense gave the Saints big time opportunities with a pair of turnovers in the second quarter that turned into 13 points. The only turnover for the Saints that didn’t turn into points was at the end of the first half with an interception by Kyle Wilson with one second left on the clock. What Rob Ryan said a couple weeks ago that the Saints defense is close to turning the corner has lit a fire in this young defense.
2nd Down: Payton Stealing a Play from LSU’s Playbook
What is probably going to be considered the turning point of this game was a fake field goal play that worked to perfection with McCown connecting with Ben Watson for a 25-yard pass that was one yard short of giving the Saints the early 7-0 lead. After what happened last week with the Colts epic fail of a fake punt, it seemed like Sean Payton was taking a page straight out of LSU Head Coach Les Miles with something like that. Got to give credit to Payton calling a gutsy play like that and credit to Ben Watson, who has started to come into his own the last two weeks and proves to be a solid replacement for Jimmy Graham.
3rd Down: Starting Strong, but Finishing Slow
The Saints started out the game fairly strong going up 20-0 heading into the locker room, but seemed to pump the brakes in the second half. The Saints lacked a sense of urgency after Andrew Luck connected with T.Y. Hilton to get their first score of the game. The Saints should have tried to respond with a touchdown of their own, but the Colts were riding that wave of momentum and made it an incredibly close game. It should have never gotten that close. And Jairus Byrd, why did you not just turn around and make the tackle on that first Hilton TD?
4th Down: Turning Point of the Season?
After starting the season 3-4, can the Saints turn this season around? Anything is possible especially looking at the Saints next few opponents. The next four games are going to be crucial for the Saints as they face the Giants, Titans, Redskins, a bye week and then the Texans. With the Titans possibly being without Mariota in two weeks, the Redskins and Giants being in the worst division in football, and the Texans being the Texans, it seems like perhaps the season that many left for dead could be revived, albeit it still being on life support. As I said in the beginning of the season, this is the most important part of the schedule that could determine the final outcome of the season. But the Saints will need a lot of outside help to have a chance to make it into the playoffs. (PLAYOFFS?!)
-Clint Domingue