After the disappointing Monday night performance, the New Orleans Saints needed to bounce back in quick fashion. However, some costly mistakes down the stretch cost them on Sunday night in a 37-30 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
How It Happened:
The Saints started the game with the football, but after a short pass to Deonte Harris came up one yard short, they were forced to punt. The Packers took advantage of the early struggles, going on a ten-play drive that saw a healthy dose of running back Aaron Jones being used as they marched into Saints territory. However, a DeMario Davis sack on second down wound up stopping Green Bay in their tracks, having to settle for a 52-yard field goal from Mason Crosby to take the early lead.
The Saints were able to get the offense going on their second drive with a 49-yard run from Alvin Kamara getting them into the redzone. Two plays, later Drew Brees found Kamara for an 11-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-3 lead with 5:15 left in the first quarter. The Packers offense, aided by a dubious horse-collar tackle call, got into the redzone for the first, time but an incomplete pass to Jones forced them to kick another field goal, this time from 33 yards out to make it a one-point game early in the second quarter.
After another three-and-out by New Orleans, Green Bay took control of the contest starting with a deep ball to Allen Lazard, setting them up at the Saints two-yard line. Aaron Rodgers found Lazard again just two plays later with a five-yard pass to put them up 13-7. The Saints responded with a methodical 11-play drive, highlighted by a 21-yard pass to Kamara on 3rd and 15. However, they could only settle for a 45-yard field goal from Wil Lutz to make it 13-10 with 4:34 left until halftime.
New Orleans was able to take some momentum into the locker room with a solid 2:34 drive that was capped off by a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders to take a 17-13 lead into the locker room. That lead did evaporate early in the third with another deep ball to Lazard setting up a short run into the endzone from Jones for his second touchdown of the evening. The Saints took over and put together another methodical drive that ate up a little over seven minutes off the clock, but ended with a 35-yard field goal from Lutz to tie things up.
The Packers, aided by a pass interference call on Marcus Williams, marched down the field quickly and found paydirt with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mercedes Lewis to take a 27-20 lead. However, it just took three plays by the Saints to tie things up once again with Brees throwing a short pass to Kamara who ran it all the way to the endzone for his third touchdown of the night. The Saints defense came up big early in the third quarter with Aaron Jones coming up just short on a 4th and 1 run, giving the offense great field position. Two plays later, the momentum shifted right back to Green Bay when Taysom Hill fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Za’Darius Smith, which turned into a 49-yard field goal to take a three-point lead.
After another three-and-out by New Orleans, Aaron Rodgers found another unlikely target in tight end Robert Tonyan to make it 37-27. The Saints were able to make it a one-possession game after a 34-yard field goal from Lutz, but a failed onside kick attempt sealed their fate on Sunday night, dropping them to 1-2.
Big Number: 83
The Saints continued to deal with dirty laundry on the field, racking up eight penalties for 83 yards. While it wasn’t the only reason for the loss, it’s a number that stands out.
Player of the Game: Allen Lazard
The waiver claims in fantasy for Allen Lazard will be through the roof after his breakout performance in place of Davante Adams, who was out with a hamstring injury. The former Iowa State Cyclone carved up the Saints defense with six receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown with one of those catches setting up a key touchdown in the second half.
Next Up: Sunday vs Detroit; Kickoff at 12 pm