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Members of the New Orleans Saints’ defense wish they could have been happy about what they accomplished in their most recent game against the Atlanta Falcons last Thursday night.

Actually, the Saints had a right to be downright ecstatic.


After giving up at least 400 yards in each of their first 10 games and allowing 375 in their next outing, numbers that have them mired at the bottom of the NFL’s defensive rankings, they held the Falcons’ powerful offense to 283 total yards.

There was no time for celebrating the big breakthrough, however, after a 23-13 loss to the Falcons further dampened their playoff hopes with four games remaining in the season.

Instead of looking at what they did, the Saints’ defense looked at what they could have done even better when they got time off before beginning their preparations for Sunday’s meeting with the New York Giants.

The Saints were gashed on a six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on the Falcons’ first possession of the game and eventually gave up too many points to offset a rare off-night for Drew Brees and his offense.

Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo looked back on that first drive, when the Falcons ran for 71 yards on the final five plays of the possession, as the toughest thing to swallow.

“If I go back, this is just my nature, I get stuck on that first drive,” Spagnuolo said. “I really wish we could have found a way to play better on the first drive, because, quite honestly, after that, we played a pretty good game defensively.”

Falcons running back Michael Turner had runs of 35 and 5 yards before backup Jacquizz Rodgers had back-to-back 14-yard gains. That set up Turner for a 3-yard touchdown run and a quick 7-0 lead.

After that first drive, however, the Saints held the Falcons without a first down on five possessions and limited them to 203 yards on 51 plays over the final 56 minutes of the game.

Still, it wasn’t enough to keep the Falcons from winning after they intercepted Brees five times.

“We found a way to have five three-and-outs,” Spagnuolo said. “But we’re a team, and if our offense is only able to generate 13 points, we have to hold them to 12. It’s just how we feel defensively.

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BIGEASY504

Yeah the D did rise up after that 1st down; if the 5 ints were not there just what exactly did the Turds do?

AllSaints

Hey could it be that against the Giants we shut them down to 200... that would be sweet But a win will be a lot sweeter !

Mardigras9

Not comfortable with the Atlanta lingo, LOL.

To answer the question, before our defense showed up, they rushed for like 100 yards in the first quarter resulting in a more effective passing game resulting in the damn "dirty birds" scoring enough points to win the game.
Had we not been playing from behind, maybe Drew doesn't try to force as many throws and maybe we have less INTs. We'll just never know. But we do know how unbeatable we are when our run game is more effective early.

SaintsBro

If we'd had that defense in say, weeks, 1, 2, 3, or 4, it'd be "look out, SB here we come." Allowing one big crazy dominating drive, and then absolutely shutting them down from there on out? That sounds scarily like '09. Exactly like '09 in fact. Probably too little, too late in this case, but I still give them props for improving. I am hoping next year is gonna be scary for the rest of the league when all the pieces we are aligning start falling into place.

Rugby Saint II

My guess is Spags will be back.

joker-saint

I have to agree with Mardigras9, take that first posession away from the falcons and it would have most likely been a completely different ball game. Spags stated this in his interview. At this point I am not really concerned about them winning so much as watching the defense improve from game to game. I sure would love to see the defense get back to that +7 turnover ratio from the championship season. At that point if for some miracle the Saints make it to the playoffs you are looking at a very different team than from the beginning of the seaspon. I like what Spags has done so far and I look forward to seeing him stay with us in the fututre. Hopefully he wont leave us for another head coaching job. (If you want to see an example of his impact on the team look no further than Cam Jordan) http://blackandgold.com/saints/53574...am-jordan.html Just sayin.....Who Dat!!!!

dizzle88

We've been down more points in a game before and brees didn't throw INT's in those games like there's no tomorrow

In 09 vs Miami we were losing 24-3 and brees already had thrown 3 picks, we won 46-34 because we stayed balanced

Face it, vs the falcons the defense did enough for us to win but our record setting offense for the second week running stalled

Can't blame the defense for the ATL game, I hope they continue to improve and finish the year strong

QBREES9

Spags will be back.

Ashley

we had only one way to go....and that was up we couldn't have gotten any worst.