SmashMouth

Welcome to our first New Orleans Saints film study of the 2010 season. We'll post next week's on Wednesday, then be back on the regular Tuesday schedule on Sept. 28 after the Saints play Atlanta.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune
Drew Brees made some nice throws against Minnesota.
The Saints didn't play their best game of the season but no team does in its opener.

The Saints played like a veteran team used to winning. They didn't turn the ball over, allowed just one sack and committed only three penalties for 20 yards.
On defense, they allowed only two plays to get "over their heads" and produced one takeaway and one sack.
The Saints weren't flawless. They made some mental errors and assignment mistakes. But they avoided the kind game-changing turnover or mental breakdown that can decide a close game.
In fact, the victory would have been decidedly easier had kicker Garrett Hartley not uncharacteristically shanked a pair of field goals, including a 32-yarder in the fourth quarter.

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