Rating: (0 votes - average)

Offense - 2.5 fleur de lis (out of possible 4)

Anyone think they'd live to see the day when New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham would be held without a catch in a game?

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick took away the Saints' best weapon and it took New Orleans a half to come up with an alternative. Belichick put his best cover corner, Aqib Talib, on Graham. Talib, at 6 feet 1, had the size and physicality to disrupt Graham. And when Talib left in the third quarter with a hip injury, Belichick bracketed Graham with two defenders and used an end or outside linebacker to chip him and disrupt his routes. All in all, it meant for a frustrating day for Graham.

The Saints' much-maligned running game had more than 100 yards, but couldn't get a first down when it needed it most in the waning moments.

Defense - 2 fleur de lis

Coordinator Rob Ryan loves to substitute situationally, but the Patriots' no-huddle attack made him keep base personnel on the field for the most part. New England's up-tempo attack seemed to catch the Saints by surprise in the first half. Twice New Orleans was flagged for illegal substitutions.

Tom Brady only faced pressure when the Saints blitzed. Brady and his cast of no-name receivers picked on cornerback Jabari Greer often, including on the last-second touchdown when Kenbrell Thompkins inexplicably got behind Greer in the end zone. Ex-LSU standout Stevan Ridley had his best game of the season, scoring twice and rushing for 96 yards.

Read More: New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots: grades | NOLA.com

dizzle88

Think it should be the other way round to be honest, our own offense screwed over the defense

The D got gashed by the no huddle, but then tightened up when it really mattered and forced a key turnover and a bunch of 3 and outs

exile

There is no try. There is only do or do not. No fleur de lis handouts for a loss.

Danno

We lost
Offense - F
Defense - F
Special Teams - F
Coaching - F
Equipment staff - F
Trainers - F
Saintsations - F
Beatwriters - F
Fans - F

saintfan

But hey! Our Kickers did quite well actually.

hagan714

Defense - 2 fleur de lis

hmmm a bit generous in my book. the pats slowed themselves more than us slowing them down.

actually an over all fair rating in my book and i usually have issues with the homer

whybag

iceshack149

Uh oh. We might be losing Danno to the Dark Side.

Danno

Naw, I'm just making fun of the "the only thing that matters is a win" crowd.

UK_WhoDat

And the officials get 4.5 patriots