All-Out Domination
The New Orleans Saints man-handle the Green Bay Packers and win their season opener for the third time in a row.
You could not ask for a better performance. The Saints delivered perhaps the earliest candidate for game of the year for the Saints. Having their home game being held at Jacksonville (due to Hurricane Ida), the Saints were underdogs against the Aaron Rodgers led Green Bay Packers. Many people assumed the Saints would have the best chance to beat Green Bay if Aaron Rodgers were to not be on the Packers anymore. But it would not have helped. The Saints made life hell for the reigning MVP. While the team only sacked Aaron Rodgers twice in the game, he was about as uncomfortable as you can get him. You can tell the quarterback was rattled and bothered to no end. And on the offensive side, the Saints were body movers. Jameis had time to do his taxes as no Packer was close to sacking him, and the run lanes were there and plentiful. The gameplan was simple and it was executed brilliantly. Here are some breakdowns on the things I liked and I didn't like:
What I liked:
The Saints offensive gamplan must have been what the Cleveland Browns ran under Kevin Stefanski: establish and commit to the run, don’t let your QB have to win the game for you. Jameis threw the ball twenty times for 148 yards and five touchdowns. Sean knew not the have Jameis get close to Drew’s regular numbers (i.e. 30-35 times). This can be a viable scheme to run, and I think Jameis is more talented than Baker should playoff time comes along in the Saints future. And both Alvin Kamara and Tony Jones Jr. are won’t mind the workload.
The line for both the offense and defense was key. Offensively, they did lose center Erik McCoy early and they didn’t miss a beat. Second year lineman Cesar Ruiz moved to center and it felt like a glove for him. He felt at home. This let Calvin Throckmorton to slide in a right guard, and he did fine. The Packers DL was no slouch, and he did fine. I have no idea the extend of McCoy’s injury nor if having Throckmorton being the starter for even a game is good, but it is a wait and see game. Defensively, the line overpowered that Green Bay OL. Sure, they were missing LT David Bahkitari, but they didn’t have him last season on SNF when we played them, and Rodgers was comfortable. Here, was the opposite. The DL made it hard for the Packers to run the ball and got Rodgers shook. Those hits and pressures did a number. Davenport, Jordan, and Kpassgnon made life hard for Rodgers. Because of that, they saved the cornerbacks’ hide. Lattimore wasn't 100%, they started a rookie at CB2, and the depth was a washed up vet, PJ, and a dude called up from the practice squad. The DL saved the Saints. They get the game ball.
The linebackers were the deepest part of the roster, and it showed. Demario Davis was his all-pro self, Baun brought his preseason hype, shutting down boot legs, Kwon Alexander looked like his fast self, and Elliss & Donnell played well on ST. I love this LB group.
This deep pass:
Juwan Johnson scored his first two TDs of his career, and both were highlight reels. No. 1 watch!
U̶N̶V̶A̶X̶X̶E̶D̶ ̶C̶O̶R̶N̶E̶R̶ Paulson Adebo played well in his first game. Got his first pick, and held his own fairly well. I like his development going forward. This secondary is about to get better with Bradley Roby coming back from suspension.
#MarcusTwoFirsts
Did you know this was the first time DeVante Adams AND Marshon Lattimore played against each other? Weird Right? Well he did well hobbled and all.
Stuff I didn’t like:
Injuries are always brutal. Erik McCoy went down early in the game, and Marshon Lattimore apparently hurt his thumb and is considered week-to-week. Hopefully both can return as soon as possible.
Fuck Troy Aikman.
The Saints play Carolina next week. Did you know Saints have yet to play Sam Darnold yet? Saints better bring that same domination. #WHODAT