ChrisXVI

New Orleans Saints
— All eyes were on Luke McCown as Drew Brees missed his first start since sitting out a meaningless Week 17 game in 2009. As backups go, you could do far worse than McCown did against the Panthers. Highlights will focus on the fourth quarter interception that all but ended the game, yet McCown was surprisingly effective, especially in the intermediate range, where he completed 8 of 9 for 124 yards. The Saints likely don’t have the roster to win consistently with him under center, but if Brees misses more time they appear to have at least a solid replacement on hand.

— Despite getting a decent chunk of guaranteed money this offseason, Brandon Browner has been a disappointment in the bayou thus far, earning his third straight grade in the red. Though he only conceded four catches, they went for nearly 35 yards per catch, surrendering big ones to both Greg Olsen and Ted Ginn. Adding in an illegal contact penalty, it begs the question of whether it was worth signing the veteran corner. So far, the signing has been abysmal.

— With Jimmy Graham in Seattle, the Saints have become perilously thin at tight end, as the 34 year old Ben Watson was given the lion’s share of snaps in this game. He’s had a solid career, but this was the second week in a row that he struggled in the run game. While he caught all four passes thrown his way, only one of those moved the chains and another resulted in a lost fumble. The Saints lack a real difference maker in the receiving corps, and this issue will continue to test Sean Payton this season.

Top performers:

LT Terron Armstead (+3.8)
DE Cameron Jordan (+3.6)
CB Delvin Breaux (+3.2)
CB Damian Swann (+1.5)
C Max Unger (+1.5)

In addition, Armstead made their Team of the Week and Browner made their Worst of the Week.

frydaddy

Glad to see Breaux in the positive. He's getting better every week. He and Lewis will be the starters and Browner will end up only playing in a few sub packages.

ChrisXVI

Lewis and Breaux will be a deadly tandem with Swann playing the NB. Browner can do sonething else... Preferably not be on the field.

blackangold

Our best performers this year defensively have been Rookies... Kikaha, Breaux, Swann, Anthony, Richerdson. We'll have a pretty solid DB core for years to come if PJ Williams is actually any good. I like the future defensively, even more if RR goes away this offseason.

saintshrimp

Who the heck makes these grades anyway and why do people pay attention to them. I like to believe what I see instead of what someone tells me what to believe. I didn't see those guys playin that great Sunday online didn't give a pocket really luke was Rollin out making plays. C. Jordan don't recall anything great he did Anthony either except the 15yrd penalty Breaux didn't need tone picked on this week they had anything they needed from Browner

brees84

Next big contract extension -> Terron Armstead

Money well spent (unlike other stupid extensions by Loomis)

Lord_Saint83

Armstead is a beast and a freak of nature. Loved the pick when we got him and love it more now.

jeanpierre

I'd like to sit, watch and grade film with these guys...

I saw several run plays where Jordan failed to secure the perimeter/edge and allowed the running back to gash the Saints on the outside...

CharityMike

I want to see Browners grade.

Danno

All grades, yes, Browner was horrible.

Also note that this is the 3rd straight week that Anthony graded very badly.

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