New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Pats - Saints analysis From Football Oustiders

read full article on Audibles at the Line

New Orleans Saints 27 at New England Patriots 30

Tweets

@pchicola: That Brady sack inside the red-zone was more a testament to his WR inability to beat man-coverage, than a coverage sack by NO.
@pchicola: For NE, trickle down effect of losing Wilfork, is having to play Big Nickel w/ Spikes in sub. Major liability in coverage vs TE & RB
@pchicola: The year Belichick finally puts up a competitive defense, it falls apart piece by piece (Wilfork, Kelly, Talib, Mayo)
Aaron Schatz: Kenny Stills TD catch to go ahead of Pats 24-23 is extra remarkable because two defenders are right there. Dennard's hand in his face
@WhispersMoCo: @FO_ASchatz Gregory wasn't "right there." He was late and out of position.
Aaron Schatz: @WhispersMoCo No, on further view, you are right. Gregory was a step late. Dennard was right in his face though.
Matt Waldman: Good technique by Stills to keep hands on shoulder of Dennard. Keeps hands free from entanglement & gauge DB
Cian Fahey: Well, that's a fitting final drive for the Patriots offense, at least if that proves to be the final drive
Aaron Schatz: And Aaron Dobson with the straight-out drop on fourth-and-6. Not a PD.
Matt Waldman: Dobson has had hand position issues since college. Perfect example on this route. On this play, would have liked to see Dobson attack the ball rather than wait on it. Hand position was set to wait. If Dobson extends arms for ball, can make catch with palms up rather than down, and have more control of pass.
Cian Fahey: Going for it on fourth down was the only decision there for the Patriots. Still a one score game with either TD or field goal
Aaron Schatz: Pats gets ball back with 1:13 left, no timeouts. Should be time for at least two more dropped passes here.
Tom Gower: Jabari Greer doesn't defend the back corner of the end zone. Kenbrell Thompkins found it.
Aaron Schatz: Kenbrell Thompkins TD catch had Jabari Greer's hand in his face almost as bad as Dennard on Stills TD catch. Good coverage by Greer, just like by Dennard.
@GDFar: Loss falls squarely on Sean Payton's shoulders. Talent bailed him out multiple times, continued to make clock errors. If you think Rob Ryan is the reason the Saints lost, you have an already established narrative with no interest in doing analysis.
Longform

Tom Gower: I only watched this game after the Titans-Seahawks game was over, but Bill Belichick's call to go-for-it on fourth-and-6 from the 24 was unsurprising and the move I would have made. Aside from that, well, I've watched enough of Brady and the Patriots that the final comeback was not surprising. I wish I had something more insightful to say than that, but I don't, really.
Scott Kacsmar: It's amazing how offenses, including the best in the game, do not even try to do a good job in the four-minute offense to put away games so that these miracle touchdown drives never even have a chance to happen. Everyone knows about the prevent defense, but the prevent offense that practically every coach falls into where you run the ball twice and maybe throw on third down is just as much of a problem. The Saints handled those final minutes as poorly as I've ever seen.