Saints break Week 1 curse with last-second 58-yard subject aim
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints lastly broke their Week 1 curse in essentially the most unbelievable trend conceivable: A 58-yard subject aim by Wil Lutz as time expired for a 30-28 victory over the Houston Texans — simply 37 seconds after they’d misplaced the lead by permitting a two-play, 75-yard landing drive.
It was the longest subject aim within the closing 10 seconds of a season opener because the NFL/AFL merger, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Data analysis. In order that’s all it took?!
Wil Lutz drilled a 57-yard subject aim as time expired to provide the Saints their first season-opening win since 2013. AP Photograph/Butch Dill
The Saints are actually 1-Zero for the primary time since 2013. And man, oh man, they by no means wanted to win a season opener greater than this one. They wanted this win to assist them transfer on from the best way final season ended. They usually actually wanted it with the brutal stretch they’ve developing (on the Rams in Week 2, on the Seahawks in Week Three, vs. the Cowboys in Week four).
“It’s onerous to imagine (this was the Saints’ first opening win in six years). However, sure, it’s nice to begin the season off with a win so we will begin within the optimistic,” quarterback Drew Brees mentioned. “Clearly we all know the stretch of video games now we have developing right here. … Sort of the gauntlet for the primary quarter of the season. So we all know what we’re up towards, and we’ve gotta make enhancements in a short time as a result of we should be taking part in our greatest soccer.”
The Saints needed to rally again from an unsightly 14-Three deficit within the first half and the uglier 28-27 deficit within the closing minute. However large performances from Lutz, Brees, working again Alvin Kamara and others helped them exorcise some critical demons.
“It’s simply an enormous win,” mentioned Kamara, who described the Saints’ psychological toughness as “wonderful.”
“I don’t suppose anyone will get down once we’re struggling,” Kamara mentioned. “I imply, that’s a loopy state of affairs to begin the season off with.”
Purchase a breakout efficiency: OK, you don’t want me to let you know that Kamara is admittedly, actually good. However many individuals had been questioning how he’d break up the workload with new working mate Latavius Murray. And Monday’s recreation was a reminder that Kamara is so explosive and dynamic that he can do a ton even with the “pitch depend” that Sean Payton mentioned he likes. Kamara had 13 carries for 97 yards and 7 catches for 72 yards. (Murray had a pleasant debut as nicely, because of a 30-yard TD run.)
Every part you want this week:
• Full schedule » | Standings »
• Depth charts for each crew »
• Transactions and high information »
• Projected 2020 NFL draft order »
Extra NFL protection »
QB breakdown: Brees had one large, uncharacteristic blip on the opening drive when he threw his first crimson zone interception since 2017. He tried to power an ill-advised go whereas being chased by J.J. Watt. However he rallied again to finish 32 of 43 passes for 370 yards and two touchdowns, together with a crucial deep ball to Ted Ginn Jr. within the closing minutes which may quiet the questions on his 40-year-old arm for one night time at the least.
Troubling development: My greatest query heading into this offseason was how a lot the Saints would miss DT Sheldon Rankins (nonetheless recovering from a torn Achilles) and former beginning DE Alex Okafor (now in Kansas Metropolis). The excellent news is that they got here up with six sacks on Monday night time — together with two by preseason breakout DE Trey Hendrickson and two assists by new nostril sort out Malcom Brown. The unhealthy information is that they acquired gashed up the center by Watson and RB Carlos Hyde whereas permitting a complete of 180 speeding yards. Getting DT David Onyemata again from suspension subsequent week will assist. Getting Rankins again in just a few weeks will assist much more.
Daring prediction for subsequent week: It’ll come all the way down to the ultimate 37 seconds once more. Payton mentioned this shall be a brief week for the Saints, “but there’s a lot we have to clear up on from that tape” — particularly their two-minute protection — earlier than they face an explosive Rams offense.
Payton mentioned the Saints performed “unhealthy soccer” after they gave up their second-half leads so shortly, particularly contemplating they’d recognized DeAndre Hopkins as a “Don’t let him beat you” man.
“And we tried to,” Payton mentioned. “The one upside is that we let ‘em rating fast sufficient to the place we had time to return again and kick a subject aim. That’s attempting to take a look at the intense facet of issues, I suppose. However that has to alter.”
Sooner or later, the Saints would possibly get again to a few of these dominant wins that we noticed throughout final yr’s 10-game win streak. But it surely ain’t gonna are available in L.A. towards the crew that knocked them out of the playoffs in January. They don’t get to exorcise these demons that simply.