Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

It ain't over until it's over
The Saints held a 35-point lead in the second half, yet still had to hang on at home. Cam Jordan finally put the Who Dats somewhat at ease by tipping and intercepting a pass in the end zone for a score and 14-point lead late. Kenny Vaccaro's pick with less than 5 minutes left finally ended the unexpected roller-coaster ride. This is my 18th year covering the Saints and this was the wildest, wackiest game I've ever covered. The only ones remotely similar were the Saints' 52-49 win against the Giants in 2015 and their 33-30 rally vs. the Redskins in 2009.

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The Saints defense, dare I say, has become a strength
The Saints put on a pretty fair impression of the Dome Patrol on Sunday, dominating the Lions and making big plays with a swagger on defense they haven't had in a while. The D set the tone with Alex Okafor’s strip-sack-fumble-recovery TD on the Lions' opening drive. Cam Jordan's interception and score put the Saints' advantage back to 14 points late. It was the first time in the Saints' 51-year history that they've scored three defensive TDs in a game.

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Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

what did I learn? never drink the kool aid till the fat lady signs and never go into prevent defense at the beginning of the fourth. we do not have the talent op front to run prevent

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

I've learned that sports writers can use many words while saying nothing substantial.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Drew and SP didn't heed their own message.

Drew said keep the foot on their throats and could barely complete a pass the entire second half.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Offense looks worse than the D...

Defense is still very young and tends to play into the emotions of the game, needs to be more mature and will get better as the season goes. Played too much zone coverage at times which lead to the 3rd QTR come back.

Offense has no deep passing attack, maybe it's Drew's arm starting to go or the play calls but we are not getting vertical and it's starting to show. Offense needs to improve over the next few weeks as it's the weak unit on the team, and oddly enough Drew seems to be very average this season.

Overall, we tried to lose this game in the 2nd half, but luckily the defense woke up late and came through.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

We went into prevent well before the fourth quarter.

We may have won, but I still believe having AP in this game would have been better so we don't end up in the situation we did.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

?????????

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

..................
.

There are no words for this level of derp.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Very true, we used to take shots down the field early and often in previous years.

However, I don't think the D had anything to do with the Lions come back, Ingram fumbled and Brees threw a pick 6. Then we didn't get a first down the entire second half.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

If there is any question about the Value of Armstead it should have been answered today. As soon as they pulled him out the offense started to sputter. He went back in but they never did get a chance to regroup. It has as much to do with consistency on the offensive line as it did Armstead I guess but it all started then.

I also saw a lot of short passes from Drew as well. He's getting old.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

If you have to drop a 50-burger to win an unnecessary nailbiter, and people actually use the word "wackiest" to describe your victory, I'm not sure how much there is to really celebrate. I'll give them credit, Payton banged the gong, and the offense scored some points for the hometown fans, but it was far from dominant.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

?????????

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

I don't think those 6 carries for 7 yards would've helped much.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

I didn't get to watch or listen to the game but I love the run/pass distribution I see on paper! Ingram getting 20+ carries and going over 100 yards is nice.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Took you this long? Really? :-D

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Any win is just like a newly opened bottle: Well worth celebrating.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

I'm celebrating next week! We get to face a Rodgers less GB team...

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Seriously though. We are celebrating a defense who surrendered almost 31 points to a team decimated by injury at just about every position including their starting QB. Hell, at the end of the game they were playing a 3rd string offensive line and still allowed points. If our guys hadn't had a freakishly opirtinistic game defensively we would have lost. We aren't doing that week in week out.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

You do realize; only 21 points were given up by the defense? And they scored 21!

You had a pick 6 by Brees, a return for a TD, and a fumble giving the Lions a short, short field which was held to a fg; if I remember correctly...

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

I mention the same thing in the game thread. I believe people get so used to complaining about the saints defense they just don't know how to give props

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

That's why I said almost 30. I didn't count their defensive score but did count the special teams. Still scored 21 points in spite of our freakish once they in a lifetime performance against a banged up Stafford and a bunch of missing veterans. If they were full go we would have been throwing the ball every down. Midway into the first quarter.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Ooh Ooh!
Mr Kotter! Mr Kotter!

I learned that the Saints Special Teams are still riddled with ineptitude.

The Kicking situation as far as the individual Punter and PK are concerned?
Solid as a rock.

EVERY SINGLE PUNT OR KICKOFF RETURN SEEMS TO HAVE A PENALTY!

I am numb to it at this point.

Just have some Dood stand back and fair catch every kick and have everyone else sit the frick down on their hands so they cannot possibly cause a penalty.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Please in the past how many times have we watched no named QB's play like HOfers and totally dismantle the defense?

Damn; You people will ***** and moan about anything! Must make for a not so happy existence :rolleyes:

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Better than sitting side by side with Guido simultaneously rubbing one out to a team that can't be criticized.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Anyone faulting the D for the come back.. KYS..

Our offense gained 30yds in the 2nd half... The offense scored more points for Detroit in the 2nd half. Absolutely **** performance by Brees and Payton this week. Need to see more vertical attacking.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Amen Brother!

I was an unabashed Sunshiner until we went 0-2 yet again this season.

No more.

I'm done with the mental gymnastics that follow every loss.

Well well it's not Payton or Loomis' fault. It's injuries or bad behavior by players, blah blah blah.....

SP and ML OWN THIS INEPTITUDE!

I feel like Hulk Hogan joining the NWO, and I don't even watch rasslin!

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

We could not run out the clock. Given what AP did today against TB, he would have continued his ownage of the lions if given the chance. We won but it was ugly. As I have said constantly for weeks, that defense has to play well to calm Brees down because he looked rattled in the second half, overthrowing receivers and too short passes that don't result in first downs. I just know AP would have put this game away and it would have never been 45-38 at one point.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

You all seriously think the saints didnt throw the ball down the field because Drew CANT throw the ball down field?...Lls you cant be serious how limited would we be as a Team to have a professional QB that CANT throw more than a 30 yrd pass. Think logically maybe the shots were not there and might I add we traded our deep threat away to the patriots.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

He only had 10 incompletions 4 in the first half 6 in the second and our"number one wr" was really quiet to the point I thought he was injured. We ran more than we threw its called a gameplan. Then its complaints when we throw too much. Talk about never satisfied.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

I dont agree with your belief that AD would have made any difference on this particular football team with Sean Payton as the Boss.

Your take on Brees?
I'm with you, Big Time!

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Brees and the offense were completely embarrassing in the second half.

On a 3rd and 3, Brees threw incomplete to Fleener, he missed a wide open Michael Thomas sat in an empty zone right in front of him.

Kamara is a great player, but we threw to him far too much, it was too obvious.

Brees was off and it was noticeable, SP was going nuts on the sideline when couldn't convert 3rd downs. They better get that cleaned up, they almost cost us the game and put all the pressure on a young D who played outstanding.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Drew has had 3 completions of 40+ yards this season. He has a PR of 103.2. Last year he only had 10 completions of 40+ yards. In 2009, he only had 11 completions of 40+ yards. I don't think the issue is Drew's arm. I think the issue is that our run game is inconsistent and play-action opportunities suffer because of it ( and our o-line has been unstable ). I also think our short passing game has been stunted without Willie Snead ( which also has meant less check-down opportunities and not enough decoys on the field ). Also, Coleman has not exactly shined this season. He needs to step up.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

No offense to AP intentionally but Arizona was up 31-6 start of the 4th quarter and Tampa almost came back with a sub at quarterback.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

I've gone from "meh" to optimistically realistic. What a crazy and fun game to watch yesterday.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Why do you even watch Saints football? You ***** when they lose; you ***** even worse when they win!

I'm mean seriously *****ing about the best defensive performance we've seen in forever! They only gave up 21 and made up the difference with scoring 21!

You are a sad person and I'd hate to be around you in everyday life where things that really matter happen...

I watch the Saints for entertainment; I may get a little upset when they lose. But I get enjoyment out of them winning, and don't find it wise to waste energy on *****ing about something I can't control. And if I ever get like you and ***** about everything win/lose, than at that point I'll stop watching Saints football and find something else to do instead! Because to me; I'd have lost the entertainment value...

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

:bng:

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

I learned some people on this board are miserable and will not be happy with anything

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

-The batted balls was the most impressive thing I've seen in a while. Great coaching AND player execution.
-Kamara is the real deal.
-Peat is playing at an all-pro level.
-Ramczyk was a great pick. The guy just lines up and plays.
-Keep overlooking Robertson. Please continue to motivate the guy. If you see him, tell him he's slow and lucky to be in the NFL. :)
-Lattimore is very good and competes.
-Crawley is good and competes hard.
-Hendrickson competes.
-The coaching and play calling was better yesterday.
-The defense did a better job defending against the bunch/pick plays.
-Ginn contributes.
-I don't understand Fleener. Injured? Average talent? Doghouse?
-Bell and Williams need to improve their tackling.
-The DT rotation is thin. McDaniel could help here.

Re: Here's what we learned from the Saints' wild win vs. Detroit
 

Offense the reason the game became close. Way too many 3 and outs. 2nd half dreadful. Defense won the day. How about the Coach giving up 4 points causing us to lose 4 points by getting the dumb delay of game call. Then the play calling was atrocious after the first half. Agree with comments above about prevent defense. Have to learn to play winning football FOR 4 QUARTERS again.