SmashMouth

Game three in the NFL preseason usually is when fans are going to see the most playing time out of their favorite teams' starters. Games one and two is a quarter maybe and then the fourth game may not even see them play at all. It's that third game that allows us as fans to see exactly what type of form and shape the team is in. It allows us to see if they're ready to start the season.

After last night, I'd say the New Orleans Saints are ready.

On Friday night, the Saints stepped onto the field of the Superdome prepared to take on the visiting San Diego Chargers in a contest that pitted Drew Brees against the man who replaced him as quarterback of the Bolts, Philip Rivers. We all know the story of the injury and how Rivers stepped in and Brees became a god, err...Saint.

It's long time over now, but it is still a fun tale to go back and think about when you realize how that whole Chargers/Saints/Dolphins mess worked out in the end. That makes every contest between these two teams have a little something extra behind it even if it is the preseason.

The Starters did get a good bit of work in though in the 36-21 Saints' victory though with most of them staying in the game until about midway through the third quarter. It's this third game that allowed coach Sean Payton to get one last general idea what his core group needs to work on before the regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 9.

While there are a few things that still need to be tweaked and oiled up, there was a lot that was corrected and even more that impressed. Let's take a look at some stats and other observations from the Saints' victory to see what went right and what went wrong.


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