The last two weeks for the New Orleans Saints has seen an offense that typically can fire at will underperform with Drew Brees being the root of the problem. It seemed like this would be a similar outcome as they were taking on one of the best defenses in the league in Arizona. However, the Saints were able to get their groove back, outlasting the Cardinals in a 48-41 shootout.
The Cardinals struck first with a quick drive down the field that ended with Kerwynn Williams getting things done on the ground with a 49 yard run to make it 7-0. The Saints would respond late in the first quarter with a 37 yard field goal from Will Lutz.
The Saints would get the ball back two plays later after Paul Kruger forced Larry Fitzgerald to fumble the ball which was recovered by Robertson. That would turn into seven points and the lead with Brees connecting with Travaris Cadet from 10 yards out.
The Cardinals would get the lead right back with the defense getting a strip-sack that was recovered by Calais Campbell and taken to the house. However, Chandler Catanzaro would miss the point after which would make it a three-point lead. The Saints would respond quickly with a two-play drive that saw Brandin Cooks put on the jets for a 65-yard touchdown to make it 17-13.
The scoring continued with Brees finding Cooks wide open for a 45-yard strike to extend their lead. However, the two-touchdown lead would now last long as the Cardinals would score in the closing moments of the second quarter after Palmer connected with J.J. Nelson, making it 24-20 at the half.
The Saints would pick up where they left off with a methodical 14 play drive that ended with Will Lutz nailing one from 39 yards out. The Cardinals responded with a quick march down the field that ended with David Johnson going up the gut and tying the game up on a short run.
The Saints had marched down the field and were initially held to another field goal that would have given the Saints a three-point lead, but an offisdes penalty gave the Saints a fresh set of downs and on the next play Tim Hightower would make it 34-27.
Arizona’s Johnson would tie things up once again with another short run up the gut after a short march down the field. The shootout continued with Brees finding rookie Michael Thomas in the endzone for the touchdown.
The Saints would put the game away after Vonn Bell forced Brittan Golden to fumble and Hightower would get his second touchdown of the night from two yards out.
The Saints (6-8) will return to the Superdome on Christmas Eve to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) for the second time in three weeks with kickoff set for 3:05 pm.
-Clint Domingue