Football is a strange sport sometimes. Just when it seems like the game is in your hands, a strange play leads to a loss in the closing minutes. That is exactly what happened on Sunday when the New Orleans Saints fell to the Denver Broncos 25-23.
The Broncos got on the board on the opening drive with a lengthy 12 play drive that ended with Trevor Siemian connecting with Jordan Taylor in the endzone to take an early 7-0 lead. The lead would be extended early in the second quarter with an interception by Darian Stewart and ended with a 50-yarder from Brandon McManus to make it a double digit lead.
The Saints would cut away at the lead with a 30-yard field goal from Wil Lutz to make it 10-3 at the half.
After forcing the Broncos to punt to start the second half, the Saints would tie things up with a pass from Drew Brees to Willie Snead. After they tied it up, the defense got things done with an interception by Kenny Vaccaro that would lead to another touchdown pass to Snead to give them the lead.
The Saints were able to force Denver to kick a field goal which they missed, but only two plays later, Michael Thomas would fumble the ball deep in New Orleans territory. A few minutes later, the game was tied again with a pass from Siemian to Demaryius Thomas.
The Broncos continued to dominate defensively with a pair of field goals to take a 23-17 lead with 2:50 left in the game.
The Saints would make a quick score with Brees connecting with an incredible deep pass to Brandin Cooks to get it within one. But the story of the game came on the extra point. As Will Lutz went to kick, Simmons leaped over the offensive line, blocked the kick and Parks would take it to the house for two points and the win after a failed onside kick attempt.
The Saints (4-5) don’t have time to dwell on these things because they have another game in five days against the Carolina Panthers (3-6) with kickoff set for 7:25 pm.
-Clint Domingue