Saints Falcons 4th Quarter Analysis

So we open the 4th Quarter with the Falcons driving to the Saint 29 and my heart's in my mouth.  The ESPN Analyst doesn't help by pointing out Falcons coach Roddy White has never lost back to back games with the Falcons.  Heck of a time to bring that up guys, thanks a lot.  My heart has gone to Defcon 4.

Big 3rd and 5 coming up after incompletion and Turner run.  DEEEEFENCE, DEEEEFENCE, DEEEEFENCE.  Come on crowd, be the 12th man...  GET THE FUNK IN, they force the run wide and only pick up 1.  But the Falcons go for it on 4th and 4 and... connect to Gonzalez for a 1st down and I'm going to hide behind my giant hands for a while.

Falcons at the 9, false start penalty though and they are 2nd and 12.  Did the crowd entice their first big penalty of the game?

Ryan to ex Saint Stecker (Judas) and they're down to the 7.  3rd and 4.  Ryan to Roddy White for a touchdown and we are tied... NOOOO, the call is being challenged and with good reason as that ball was not caught.  And the ruling is overturned!!  4th down and 4.  This time the Falcons are settling for the field goal and Elam converts.  Heck of a job holding them to 3.

Falcons 24 Saints 28.

Saints take the field with the ball at the Saints 25.  Time for a big time drive.

Brees to Henderson for 8.  Bell runs right and picks up 1 and a half so we're facing 3rd and a squiral.  Oh jeez, Thomas spills the ball to the carpet and the Falcons recover.  Payton is challenging the call as it looks like Thomas may have been down before he was mugged at the bottom of the pile.  And...

They loose the challenge and are out of challenge attempts.  DAMN.  The Falcons have the ball at the 35 with momentum.  Time for a Championship defence.

But no Michael Turner runs for 20 after being stuffed at the line.  This is the guy I most feared and he is putting up big numbers.  Heck of a play.

But... Tracy Porter intercepts the next Ryan pass at the 2 and returns it to the Saints 20.  Jonathan Vilma tipped that ball which pushed it Porters way.  Heck of a momentum shift back the Saints way and hell of a play by messers Vilma and Porter.  Man this game is killing my ticker.

Quickly to 3rd and 5.  A yellow flag rescues the Saints as the ball sails past Reggie Bush.  I think we caught a break as that was not pass interference.

Bell picks up 2.  Brees long down field to Colston who makes an outstanding catch at the Falcon 41.  Colston is upended but holds on and wins my undying love.

Bell runs right for 4.  Here we go, finally a decent 2nd half drive.  Thomas in the back field floors John Abraham giving Brees time to complete an uncatchable ball to Shockey... who catches it being the legend he is.  1st down!

Thomas inside picks up 4 and the clock is ticking down to 4 minutes.  Brees to Colston for the 1st down and the clock runs as the Falcons throw a hissy fit because they are big birds and can't take the pace.

Thomas for a couple and Atlanta call a timeout with the ball at their own 7, 3.12 on the clock.  Brees to Henderson who is stopped at the 1.  Great catch (more because it eases my blood pressure than a hall of fame catch or anything).  3rd and goal.  Come on the black and gold, this is the game.

Brees to Thomas in the flat who leaps and... TOUCHDOWN!!  That Pierre Thomas Jersey goes to the top of my Christmas list and perhaps many others.

Falcons 24 Saints 35 with 3.03 on the clock.

Falcons ball at the 34 and the commentators are goofing.  Goof away boys as I am happy... for now.  Ryan will be heading to the air as the Dome picks up the noise.  Here we go...

Oh my, tipped pass and Sharper almost snares another interception but drops it, damn.  Roman Harper makes a heck of an open field tackle on Gonzalez on the next play to bring up 3rd and 2.  Ryan converts by sneaking out the pocket and takes it to the 48.

Will Smith of Hollywood fame forces a fumble and the Saints recover.  Smith is definitely among the Super Saints of the week with 4 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble.

However the Falons have just challenged the call and won it.  Incomplete pass my ass.  Stupid Falcons.  Brings up the 2 minute warning.  So chalk off the forced fumble from Will Smiths numbers and he's relegated to Super boy status for now.

Ryan to White down the sidelines but Sharper gets over there to force White out before he gets the second foot down so incomplete.  Hell of a play Eagle Eyes.  Another incomplete and it's 4th and 10.  This is it...

And the ball sails incomplete and the Saints will WIN!!!!  Saints go 7 and 0 and steal a march on the division crown.

Except I've spoken too soon because, as the Saints were running the clock out, Bell inexplicably fumbles the ball.  Put two arms on that thing man, for F@*ks sake!!

Now my heart is pumping 20 to the dozen.  It's quickly 4th down though so Elam is in to kick a 40 yard field goal to narrow the score to 35 to 27.  All eyes on the on side kick and the 'not so great' Saints kick return team.  28 seconds on the clock...

And it's...  a hell of a scrum of 20 guys and... the Falcons have the ball, unbelievable!!  26 seconds left.

Ryan to Jenkins and the Falcons are at midfield with 11 seconds to go.  Here comes the Hail Mary.  Come on Porter, Sharper, Greer, Gay, et al...

DARREN SHARPER intercepts!!!!  My man.  And the heart can return to normal and I can stop almost crying like the big girl I clearly am.

Saints Player Rankings Week 7

Now that the heat of battle has died down and we've all caught our breath after the heart attack inducing tension of the Saints Dolphins clash I want to take a look at what we've learned about the team this week.

New Orleans Saints helmet cam analysis

1 - Sean Payton is a gutsy leader.  This we have known for a long time but it's worth reflecting on one game changer in particular from this past week. 

What I love about Coach Payton is that even when the chips are down, and without the luxury of being in the driving seat with points on the board, he still went with his gut and took his Quarterbacks word as gospel at the close of the 1st half.  A lot of coaches would have taken the 3 points and come off the field as quickly as possible to speak with his team en masse.  Payton decided to put all his trust in his main field lieutenant and was rewarded when Drew Brees converted with a Quarterback sneak.

 Lord Payton of Pimlico

2 - Drew Brees is a practitioner of perfection.  Watching Brees beat himself up on the sidelines in the first half was tough to see.  Here is a man who studies the game like no other.  He puts in the hours at the training facility, in the film room and probably at home too.  He works toward and expects perfection from himself and those around him so when the game plan was collapsing you knew damn well he was going to work the situation harder than anyone.

And sure enough when the camera panned to him, time and again in that first half, he was studying those aerial shots intently looking for the dinks in the Dolphin defence that he could exploit.  This is a man that never says die, is born to win and will stay cool when all around him are loosing their heads.  The second half revival was testament to the fortitude of his character and leadership qualities.

3 - The Saints Defence is for real.  They genuinely make us title contenders.  The early points put up by the Dolphins and the speed with which the Saints Offence kept returning possession placed a massive strain on this unit.  They were under pressure to keep the game within reach and give the Saint Offence time to regroup and work a fix.  This they did and then some.

Key to the unit was the play of both Jonathan Vilma and Darren Sharper.  At times in the first half they looked like the only two who had turned up with their game heads on.  Vilma in particular pursued the ball with conviction and plugged up the holes on a number of 3rd downs to stop promising Dolphin drives.  He led the defence by example and was key to the end result.

Meanwhile, in the Saints secondary, Darren Sharper was patrolling with intent and when his moment came he made a decisive interception which he returned for a touchdown to shift the games momentum early in the second half.  The confidence number 42 instils in the secondary unit is clear to see and against the Dolphins they added another 14 points to their season tally.

For these reasons I hereby name Darren Sharper and Jonathan Vilma my Super Saints of the Week.

3rd Quarter Report - Saints on the come back trail

Start of the second half and before I can say 'Your mum is on trial for purgery' Darren Sharper intercepts Henne and returns for a TOUCHDOWN!!  Except it's not definitely a touchdown as we go to commercials because it's not that kind of a game.  It will either be a touchdown or a touchback when we return.

Game defining decision coming up and... The play STANDS - Get the fuck in!!  Sorry for all those of a sensitive disposition but I feel justified in swearing after this turn around as we're back in the game!

Next play and Saints sack Chad Henne, is this a momentum shift we are witnessing?  2 more plays and the Dolphins are bringing in their punter... Reggie returns for half a peanut and a packet of squirrels.  The Saints will takeover at their own 35.

Pierre Thomas for a couple, Brees knocked as he throws and the ball falls incomplete.  3rd and 7.  Long to Devery Henderson (Brees was under pressure AGAIN).  1st and 10 at Dolphins 25.

Brees incomplete to Colston, Pierre Thomas stopped for a loss of 1.  3rd and 11.  Brees goes to Colston in the end zone... Colston makes the grab but a fish wrestles it from him and it's an interception and touch back.  Balls.

Dolphins still 24 Saints 17.  This is an important drive.  We need to stop another momentum shift.

The Saints Defence comes up trumps again as Vilma stuffs the run on 3rd and short.  Vilma and Sharper are leading this team by example today.

Saints takeover at their own 20 after Bush returns for a squirrels nut-sack and an amoeba.

Brees sacked again on 2nd down (4th of the game by the Dolphins).  Brees then hit by Jason Taylor on 3rd down which forces a fumble, Miami's ball at the Saint 15.  As a reserved Englishman would say... Crickey!

But the Dolphins go 3 and out so have to settle for a field goal.

Dolphins 27, Saints 17 with 5.59 remaining in the 3rd.

Mike Bell on the first play of the possession and he takes it 38 yards to the Dolphins 48.  Quality.  Get him in the game (and not just because he's in my fantasy team).  Devery Henderson now on a reverse for good yardage down to the 29.  Pierre Thomas for 6 more.  2nd and 4.  Pass to LANCE MOORE THE MOST UNDERRATED WR for a 1st down to 14.  This is more like it.

Saints quickly facing 3rd and 10 after a pass to Bush which results in a gain of a DNA string.  Next pass though goes to Marques Colston in the back of the end zone for... A TOUCHDOWN!

Dolphins 27, Saints 24.  Game Mother Funking On.  Who Dat, Who Dat, Who Dat gonna go Hex Dem Saints?  1.09 to go in the 3rd.

Miami start at their own 29.  Henne incomplete.  Henne to Hardline for 67 yards.  Ricky Williams gets his salt shaker out and rubs in a touchdown.

Miami 34, Saints 24.  This game really reminds me of the Dolphins Bears 85 regular season game that put a stop to the Bears perfect season.  Don't ask me to explain as frankly I want a sip of beer.

It also reminds me of a song I once wrote called 'So near so far, se la vie my friend'... it was a blues gabba techno track with a fusion of mild hysteria... a bit like Shania Twain stuck at a dull cocktail party with Rush Limbaugh.

Saints 17 Dolphins 24.

Read the 1st, 2nd and 4th Quarter Saints Dolphins In Game Posts by clicking on the Blog Archive in the right hand menu, select October and then find the Quarter you require.

Saints Dolphins 2nd Quarter Horror Show

Dolphins FG

Saints get the ball and Brees... intercepted near Saints 20. 

Dolphins rushing TD.  Only Vilma, Sharper and Grant have turned up too date.

Saints take over.  Pierre Thomas good 9 yards, Thomas again for 1st down, that's more like it.  Brees to Colston finally for 23 yard pass and run.  Consecutive 1st downs for Saints for the first time in this ball game.

Thomas short run... for nada.  Brees drops back and... Sacked, ball pops out and Stinchcomb does well to recover (gets injured for his effort).  So that's Vilma, Sharper, Grant, Thomas (for those two runs) and Stinchcomb who have turned up for the Saints today out of a suited up squad of 45.

Devery Henderson gets a few on 3rd down and now John Carney is back in for a 50 yard field goal attempt that... surprise, surprise, goes wide of the posts.  This is some bad karma day in New Orleans.  Don Shula's on the sidelines looking very happy.  The 72 Dolphins look like they can rest easy the way this is going.  I'm not giving up though... never do...

Oh my Cedrick Ellis is being helped from the field with an injury.

Reggie Bush makes nothing on the ensuing punt return so the Saints offence will inherit poor field position again.  I'm not getting on Reggie's back for that though as I still rate the second guessing element he brings to opposing D co-ordinators... just as I type that he looses his footing on a hand off for a loss of two!!  I'm going to stop typing for a bit.

Brees is sacked at the 2 yard line (so much for not writing for a while).  That week off for the Dolphins has clearly given them time to watch a tonne of film and work some pretty intelligent schemes because the Saints have just not got out of the blocks today.

Right definitely shutting up for a bit so I can watch this...

Nope I'm straight back as just had a thought.  The Saints D really isn't playing that bad.  They gave up the big play to Ricky Williams but apart from that most of the points have resulted from short plays and bad field positions.  It's shocking to say this but the Saints offence is simply having a stinker.  Pepé Le Pew (skunk from Warner Brother’s cartoons) would be holding his nose watching this one.

But then the Saints D force a fumble and Sharper recovers in Dolphin territory.  Brees to Lance Moore (FINALLY) for 7.  Brees to Bush on 3rd and 3 and they convert on 3rd down for the first time today. 

Jeremy Shockey makes his first grab of the day and gets a first down.  Finally the Saints are driving; again for the first time (and we're now in the two minute warning).  Brees has been under pressure on most plays which is very unlike the Saints O line this year.

But then... Brees to Colston and TOUCHDOWN!!  Back shoulder of Marques Colston, 5th of the season, which takes it to... oh no, the booth are reviewing and declare from on high that he was downed at the half yard line.  This is just not our day.  But hold on to your hats... the Saints were about to kick a field goal as only 5 seconds were left on the clock when the Dolphins inexplicably called a timeout and Brees talks Peyton into letting him back out there... Next play Drew Brees leaps over center and TOUCHDOWN.  Gutsy play calling.  Love it.  Dolphins 24, Saints 10.  That could have been so much worse but for the fumble and that recent run of plays.  

I've seen fish inside barrels being shot at putting up better fights than the Saints offence in this first half.  Just mistakes galore.  Have to take it on the chin and accept it as one of those things.  Regroup boys and let's get back in this.

Read the 1st, 3rd and 4th Quarter Saints Dolphins In Game Posts by clicking on the Blog Archive in the right hand menu, select October and then find the Quarter you require.

The 2nd Quarter and the Giants are hanging in

Next drive, Thomas run, Thomas run, Shockey catch, Robert Meacham catch Touchdown!!  Absolutely perfect throw again into double coverage.  The Giants are just not able to deal with Bree's at the moment.  The Saints O are moving the ball on the floor and in the air at ease.  It's quite shocking.  207 total yards offensively already.

20 nothing after blocked point after.  Scott Fujita is out the game though.

1st challenge of game by Peyton for a spot of the ball on Manning 3rd and 10 connection.  It looked short of the spot.  The Giants will have to go for it if they are to stay in the game even if they turn possession over at midfield.  The Saints loose the challenge.

Sharper intercepts ball and returns for TD but called back for roughing the passer called on Vilma.  Bradshaw takes the ball in from 12 yards 2 plays later instead making it 20 to 10 instead of 27 to 3.  I hope that Vilma call does not come back to haunt us as the Saints are only 10 points ahead despite complete domination.  73 yard drive on 9 plays.

Brandon Jacobs is shook up.

Reggie Bush 1st play of the day takes a pitch and picks up 9.  3rd down converted by Mike Bell to the Giants 47.  That's all 3 backs now in the game and making good plays.  Perfectly balanced offence which allows Bree's to play action and throw deep which draws a pass interference penalty all the way down to the Giants 12.  Play action again and Touchdown to Lance Moore!!  The play picks me up points on the Fantasy team, heralds the 100th touchdown pass by Bree's as a Saint and puts them up 27 to 10 with an almost perfect game to date.

Giants special teamer Hixon returns another long one though and gives the Giants great field position at the Saints 37.  Bar 2 returns by Hixon and the Vilma penalty this game would be over.  Manning moves the ball and it's another TD making it a 10 point game.  This worries me.  To play this perfect and have the Giants still in the game?  Not a good omen.  Keep the faith though as Brees is on fire and is a cool customer.

Read the 1st, 3rd and 4th Quarter Saints Giants In Game Posts by clicking on the Blog Archive in the right hand menu, select October and then find the Quarter you require.