Rating: (0 votes - average)

Drew Brees was understandably giddy when he said the Saints’ remarkable overtime victory against the Washington Redskins on Sunday was a product of “destiny.” What other explanation was there for New Orleans winning despite having no pass pressure, no pass coverage and no running game in its worst performance of the year?

Let’s just hope his teammates don’t buy into the destiny talk while forgetting the hard work that put them on top. “Teams of destiny” invariably lose the second their good fortune runs out, but the Saints hardly needed any luck in winning their first 11 games.

Now that they have a two-game lead on the Minnesota Vikings for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, only two things can keep them from getting to the Super Bowl: injuries and overconfidence.

The injury effect was obvious in Landover, Md. Washington quarterback Jason Campbell threw for a career-high 367 yards as cornerbacks Malcolm Jenkins and Mike McKenzie, coming off strong performances against the New England Patriots, were over matched in continued relief of Jabari Greer (groin strain) and Tracy Porter (sprained MCL). They got no help from a dormant pass rush (zero sacks), but the Redskins’ receivers burned Jenkins several times and McKenzie repeatedly missed tackles after coming up to defend quick outs.

The defense also appeared rudderless without linebacker Scott Fujita, a late scratch from the game with a knee injury. Washington, which had a season-high 29 points against the Saints last year, scored a season-high 30 this time.

exile

After losing soooooo many of these types of games in previous years. There is no other explanation.