Saints ground game looms large

WhoDat!656 · 01-12-2012, 10:30 AM

NEW ORLEANS -- Of all the impressive feats the New Orleans Saints produced in Saturday's 45-28 wild-card win over the Detroit Lions, the ones that will help them most going forward likely went unnoticed.

We all knew the Saints could throw the football better than any other team in the league, which they proved against the Lions. Now what they'll need against the San Francisco 49ers are the kinds of consistent runs they received from their ground game. With that, they stand a good chance of reaching the NFC title game. Without it, they'll be watching that contest back home.

It really will be that simple for the Saints. They set an NFL playoff record with 626 total yards in their win over Detroit, with 466 of those coming from the arm of quarterback Drew Brees. Those who caught the game should've realized that the efforts of the Saints' runners -- specifically Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Chris Ivory -- also helped set the table for that barrage of points. It was their pounding and slashing that reminded a formidable Lions front four that it couldn't just focus on harassing the quarterback.

That trio helped the Saints gain 166 yards, average 4.6 yards a carry and set a tone that will have to be present in the Bay Area on Saturday. The 49ers earned the second seed in the NFC by being the antithesis of New Orleans. They were methodical on offense and brutally physical on defense. Their game plan this weekend won't be any different from the one that led to their 13-3 record. While the Saints will be looking to pass their way to victory, the 49ers will be looking to pummel their way to a win.

New Orleans Saints need to run against San Francisco 49ers - ESPN

01-12-2012, 10:30 AM	#1
WhoDat!656 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Shreveport,Louisiana Posts: 16,085	Saints ground game looms large NEW ORLEANS -- Of all the impressive feats the New Orleans Saints produced in Saturday's 45-28 wild-card win over the Detroit Lions, the ones that will help them most going forward likely went unnoticed. We all knew the Saints could throw the football better than any other team in the league, which they proved against the Lions. Now what they'll need against the San Francisco 49ers are the kinds of consistent runs they received from their ground game. With that, they stand a good chance of reaching the NFC title game. Without it, they'll be watching that contest back home. It really will be that simple for the Saints. They set an NFL playoff record with 626 total yards in their win over Detroit, with 466 of those coming from the arm of quarterback Drew Brees. Those who caught the game should've realized that the efforts of the Saints' runners -- specifically Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Chris Ivory -- also helped set the table for that barrage of points. It was their pounding and slashing that reminded a formidable Lions front four that it couldn't just focus on harassing the quarterback. That trio helped the Saints gain 166 yards, average 4.6 yards a carry and set a tone that will have to be present in the Bay Area on Saturday. The 49ers earned the second seed in the NFC by being the antithesis of New Orleans. They were methodical on offense and brutally physical on defense. Their game plan this weekend won't be any different from the one that led to their 13-3 record. While the Saints will be looking to pass their way to victory, the 49ers will be looking to pummel their way to a win. New Orleans Saints need to run against San Francisco 49ers - ESPN
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