Second-quarter scoring bonanza, stifling defense propel New Orleans Saints past Carolina: Film Study
 

All it took was one first-down reception by Marques Colston late in the first quarter to resuscitate the New Orleans Saints' offense after being a shell of itself during the second half of the team's win in Atlanta in Week 12 and throughout nearly all of the Week 13 loss in Seattle.

The Saints offense only produced one touchdown in their last seven quarters before exploding for three consecutive TD scoring drives in the second quarter of New Orleans' 31-13 win over Carolina.

New Orleans only produced three plays of more than 14 yards through the near-seven-quarter span of stagnation. That changed against the Panthers as the Saints racked up eight plays of 15 yards or more in their three scoring drives to prove once again that opponents don't stand much of a chance when the Saints' offense gets on a roll.

New Orleans' defense strangled the Carolina offense on three drives in the second quarter to serve as the perfect mixture of complementary football. Let's take a closer look at the 16-minute span of all-out Saints dominance in this week's Film Study:

First quarter

(1:09) The Saints were on the verge of another three-and-out when the offense displayed its first glimpse of the return of its mojo on third-and-9 from the Saints' 21.

Drew Brees lined up in shotgun with Pierre Thomas to his right, three receivers to his left along the line and a fourth option along the line to his right. The Panthers blitzed for the first time and the Saints made them pay for the first time as Thomas picked up the added pass rusher to perfection coming in from Brees' right. Brees dropped the pass between the Panthers' Melvin White and Captain Munnerlyn and right into the outstretched arms of Colston coming off an out route near the Saints' sideline.

This play set the tone for the rest of the half as Payton, Brees and the rest of the offense knew Carolina would be susceptible to plays like this on a leaky Panthers secondary.

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