Could be JP. But I think you are dismissing the injury factor when it comes down to playoff teams. I’m not going to beat the dead horse again about how healthy Tampa was on O bs how banged up the Saints were. If you want to pigeonhole that as Us not being able to throw a long ball then good for you. But if you don’t think that most of the reason we lost to the SB champs after beating them twice in the regular season was because they were healthier than we were I simply disagree.

We lost to the SB champs bc of four turnovers. 1 fumble, 3 int’s. That’s why.

Plain & Simple. All teams are banged up come championship month.

We lost to the SB champs bc of four turnovers. 1 fumble, 3 int’s. That’s why.

Plain & Simple. All teams are banged up come championship month.

But some are banged up at different degrees. Tampa Bay was fortunate (lucky) that they came into the playoff at their healthiest, while we came into our game with them missing several of our key players and losing others during the game. Had we been at full compliment maybe Jared Cook would not have been placed into the situation to create two of those turnovers and we, perhaps, wouldn't have been in the position to be forcing the ball once behind to produce the others.

Had Brees not been dealing with injuries of his own I seriously expect we would have won that game handily once again. And don't give me that "injury isn't an excuse" malarkey. Injuries can be and often are the "reason" for subpar play. That is a fact. Teams lose all the time for many various reasons. Injuries are one of the most prominent of those reasons as it is one of the most difficult to overcome. It can even be near impossible given the circumstances.

Fournette was on and off the injury report all year long. Godwin had his health issues. Tom Brady had knee surgery immediately following the season’s end. All teams are banged up to a certain degree. Give Tom Brady 4 turnovers, and you’re going to lose that game.

1 fumble

3 int’s..., they were ALL terrible throws. The int’s were ALL Drew Brees, bad throws, all of them. Yes, the fumble was painful..., but so were the three interceptions. Do I think losing players during the game contributed? Yes. But all teams deal with injuries throughout the season and inside of each game. Next man up..., and adapt to the circumstances you have, not the one you wished, or hoped, or had luck prevailed, or been fortunate enough, to have.

Score was 20-20, after Drew’s first interception AND the ensuing TB touchdown from Cook’s fumble.

Put the ball in Drew’s hands, what happened?

1st possession:
PUNT (and a beautiful 55 yarder by Morestead I might add!), Time of Possession - 1:38, 5 plays 12 yards, 1 First Down due to penalty, 1 rush attempt

2nd possession:
INT#2, Time of Possession - 2:44, 5 plays, 13 yards, 1 passing First Down, 1 rush attempt

3rd (final) possession:
INT#3, Time of Possession - 0.40, 4 plays, 10 yards, 1 rushing First down, 1 rush attempt.

Bottom line, Drew Brees had his chances to move the ball, but was unable to do it, as evidenced by his 134 passing yards total for the entire game.

Brees was playing with a torn rotator cuff. You ever tried that?

Injuries killed us. Who cares if Fournette had injuries during the season. It's the fact he was healthy come the playoffs that gave the advantage.

Bottom line, Drew Brees had his chances to move the ball, but was unable to do it, as evidenced by his 134 passing yards total for the entire game.

That’s where I think you are putting a little too much blame on Drew. I think it would have been different if he had, say a Godwin, Evans, Brown and Gronk group to throw to along with a healthy 1-2 RB combo instead of
just Kamara, Sanders, and a Cook who looked like he had bet his house on Tampa. Each their own though

Gotcha, fully understand that. Who’s to “blame” isn’t my cup of tea, that’s not what I’m trying to say. My very simple point is an unbiased person who watched the game will say four turnovers were the reason the Saints lost. Blame playcalling all you want, Blame injuries all you want..., heck.., blame Covid if you feel like it, blame the mayor, blame the zodiacal portents, blame Marie LaVeau if you’re feeling nostalgic. But the stats in the stat columns paint a picture, and if you actually watched the game, and the interceptions, which I’m sure most of us did, then the painting was full on clear.

Turnovers

Also, I’ll take CGM, Sanders, Tre’Quan and Cook on that day over the four you listed. All day long. Add Kamara, even without Murray in the mix, and oh yeah. With that OL? It’s a good roster, a very good roster, and a deep one. And I’m looking forward to next season regardless of who is under center!

Well, if you want to put it on stats only and skip injuries and Voo Doo then the Saints lost because Tampa generated more points than the Saints did,not because of Turnovers.

And considering how banged up Thomas was, then Tampa clearly had a more potent and effective receiving/TE/RB corps available to them in that game than the Saints did. Unbiased observation supports that.