With an extra day’s rest, the 3-5 New Orleans Saints hosted the 5-3 Baltimore Ravens for Monday Night Football. The Ravens took the lead early and never let it go as they defeated the Black and Gold 27-13.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Saints quarterback Andy Dalton found rookie receiver Chris Olave for a 15-yard pitch and catch. Blake Gillikin would make an appearance three plays later to punt.
Following a punt by each team the next two possessions, the Baltimore Ravens drove down the field to score the first touchdown of the game. It was an 11-play drive that drove took over seven minutes off of the clock. The drive would end with a trick play pass by Lamar Jackson to tight end Isaiah Likely from 24-yards out.
The next drive for the Saints resulted in a three-and-out as Dalton was sacked by Justin Houston on third down.
As we hit the two-minute warning, Kenyan Drake rushed it in from two yards out to take the 14-point lead. Jackson made plays throughout the possession as he carried it himself four times and completed four out of six passes for 49 yards.
New Orleans scored on the final drive of the first half. Dalton connected with players like Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, and Alvin Kamara. The Red Rifle had a chance with Olave who was wide open in the endzone; the pass was overthrown as the Black and Gold would settle for a 33-yard Wil Lutz field goal. Baltimore led 14-3 at halftime.
Baltimore received the ball to start the second half and continued what they did in the first half. The Ravens got down to the red zone, and Jackson would miss on a couple of throws as Justin Tucker would come on for a 32-yard field goal six and a half minutes into the third quarter.
The Saints would respond with a field goal on the following possession. Olave caught three passes, two from Dalton and one from Taysom Hill for 29 yards. Dalton got sacked by Marlon Humphrey on third down in the red zone and Lutz made another appearance as New Orleans was down 17-6 with 1:25 to go in the third.
After a three-and-out punt by the Ravens, New Orleans got the ball with good field position. Dalton got sacked by Houston and Calais Campbell on third down as Baltimore got the ball right back.
Drake made a couple of Saints defenders in the first couple of plays. The defense of the Saints would stand tall in the red zone and only give up another Tucker field goal. The Ravens were now up 20-6 with 8:31 left to go in the game.
Houston made another big play for the Ravens with an interception as Drake sealed the game with a three-yard rushing touchdown. New Orleans’ deficit was 21.
New Orleans got into the endzone late with a 41-yard catch by Juwan Johnson. Baltimore won 27-13.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Justin Houston
The ageless wonder came up big for his Baltimore flock as he recorded two and a half sacks and practically sealed the game with an interception.
BIG NUMBER: -14
The Saints’ offense on third down accumulated -14 yards on the night as the Ravens took down the Saints 27-13 Monday evening.
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints (3-6) will be in Pittsburgh on Sunday, November 13th to play the Steelers (2-6). The kick-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.