Why the Saints Lost: From the Bird's Nest

[ULGrad@HOU]

This lost had nothing to do with PT going out in the first drive. It also had nothing to do with who is the toughest team. It again, had nothing to do with a running game. The offense turned the ball over and had to fight to come from behind. The defense actually played well until the last 4 minutes of the game. Once Drew and the offense gained the lead, it was the defense that failed against a mediocre 49ers offense. The game will have ups and downs all during the 4 qtrs. The time that really matters is at the end of the game when the good players make the good plays. The Saints Defense, twice, had the chance to seal the deal and failed to do so. None of the other stuff matters, in my opinion of course.

[Bandwagon King]

I won't knock Greg Williams because he helped this team win a Super Bowl. And I do think you have to give credit to SF and Harbough, that being said Williams was beat with the same call three times. He deserves some criticism because he failed to make adjustments after the first two time times Davis made huge catches against man coverage. Either way, Smith made great throws.

That's the thing for me. I understand people are upset about the way the last drive went down. But some times it doesn't matter what defense you are in. When you have players that steps up like Davis & Smith did, there's just no beating them at that moment. I am wondring how long it will be before the first NFL coaching genius figures out that if all these offenses are going to go to NCAA basketball to get great recievers, why not go to the NCAA to get players to cover them. I was discussing with some people a few years ago that someone ought to go to Kansas and get a couple of their guards & bring them into training camp & teach them how to play defense. If it's easy to go from a basketball court & dominate on an NFL field as a reciever & blocker, it shouldn't be any harder to go from a basketball court & cover in the NFL.

[duggie85]

Its pretty simple why they lost: they had less points.

[Cajunsmike]

I agree SF set the tone of the game with the hit on Pierre and fumble, but it was not what cost the Saints the game. You don't score two touchdowns in the last five minutes of the game to take the lead twice and say that hit or fumble on the first drive cost us the game.We all agreed, well most of us last week that called in on the following:

1) Saints could not turnover the ball against the NFC's top defense- Oops, 5 To's
2) Saints must run the ball enough to keep the 49ers front seven off Brees- Oops, not only did the front seven bring pressure all day, they used bliztes as well...beat the crap out of Drew all day
3) Give Drew the ball in the fourth Quarter and let him do his thing- Check, he did
4) Make Alex Smith beat you, he hasn't done it in the past- Ooops, he did make the plays to beat you!
5) Yes, Williams blizted all season and all game is nothing new! But for God Sake, shame on him for not making adjustsment after getting beat on that same play twice. This is the NFL, the land of the best?


All the above is why the Saints lost, the hit and fumble where just the first act.

Jay is right in that the Niners were better physically and mentally most of the day. Despite that, blitzing with 40 seconds left and opponent on it's own 33 goes beyond being aggressive. It is almost on the "stupid" line. That is the one time you play somewhat soft. You let them catch it in front of you for a few yards and keep them in bounds. They use their last timeout and with one more in bounds completion the game is about over.

[Turbine]

Apples to Oranges, we did not lead the Cowboys with less than 2 minutes to go in the game DESPITE the turnovers.

More lik Heinz-57 and A1 Sauce. Without the turover fest both teams are eating steak after the game.

Still apples and oranges but both with the same/opposite result.

[duggie85]

Funny blog:

http://www.moosedenied.com/lift-your...ns-out-part-1/

Warning: there is some foul language

[Just1More]

This lost had nothing to do with PT going out in the first drive. It also had nothing to do with who is the toughest team. It again, had nothing to do with a running game. The offense turned the ball over and had to fight to come from behind. The defense actually played well until the last 4 minutes of the game. Once Drew and the offense gained the lead, it was the defense that failed against a mediocre 49ers offense. The game will have ups and downs all during the 4 qtrs. The time that really matters is at the end of the game when the good players make the good plays. The Saints Defense, twice, had the chance to seal the deal and failed to do so. None of the other stuff matters, in my opinion of course.

It all mattered. The PT knockout did change the playcalling... as did getting behind on early turnovers. Roby taking the kick that he fumbled was another domino that fell as a result of PT getting knocked out. They dug themselves out of that hole and ended up in a sprint to the finish... where I believe the Saints defense (and DC) didn't adjust to... and double up... the "man of the game"... Vernon Davis. Obviously... in conclusion... the TOs did cause the loss of the game. The Saints would normally have gotten the lead... and certainly with a full arsenal of RBs would have run more... and our defense wouldn't have been on their heels against that home game inspired 49er offense. It didn't hurt that Alex Smith played like a probowler.

[CajunEXPRESS]

No doubt 5 turnovers were a big part. No doubt Thomas fumble was a caused by a violent hit, that in some games gets a flag in today's NFL. Roby and Sproles misplaying the punts and kickoffs had almost nothing to do with the 49's, those are simply bad plays.

Fact, in spite of all that Brees had the Saints up by one and then up by three late in the game. Now I think anyone might expect the 49"s to take the lead late with only a one point game, but they simply went though the Saint's defense like a hot knife though butter, and then a three point lead, again a hot knife though butter did not even run out of time outs.

No matter what BOP or anyone else says, when you let two touchdowns come in the final two plus minutes of the game by a team that scored hardly any all year long. That my friends belongs to the defense. They needed to stand up one time and did not when it mattered most.

The Saints defense, this year, was run by the same guy who won a Super Bowl, but it was being playred without two of it's major play makers of that year, and they never came close to replacing those guys.

[RaginFan2]

No doubt 5 turnovers were a big part. No doubt Thomas fumble was a caused by a violent hit, that in some games gets a flag in today's NFL. Roby and Sproles misplaying the punts and kickoffs had almost nothing to do with the 49's, those are simply bad plays.

Fact, in spite of all that Brees had the Saints up by one and then up by three late in the game. Now I think anyone might expect the 49"s to take the lead late with only a one point game, but they simply went though the Saint's defense like a hot knife though butter, and then a three point lead, again a hot knife though butter did not even run out of time outs.

No matter what BOP or anyone else says, when you let two touchdowns come in the final two plus minutes of the game by a team that scored hardly any all year long. That my friends belongs to the defense. They needed to stand up one time and did not when it mattered most.

The Saints defense, this year, was run by the same guy who won a Super Bowl, but it was being playred without two of it's major play makers of that year, and they never came close to replacing those guys.

In regards to the DC, it just goes to show that "players make plays" and "big time players make big time plays when it counts". I am a firm believer that the plays that are so vital at the end of the game are set up during the entire course of the game. It looked to me that the early problems the Saints had put added pressure on the defense, and they got worn down (mentally & emotionally) at the end.

[Turbine]

I don't want to lose him so I won'tname him in this post . . . but what the Saints needed at the end of thegame was an S&C coach with blood dripping down his forehead.

They needed him (or one like him) in the off season when he could have performed bloodless surgery on the team.