What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Chicago Bears, 20-12, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday for their fifth consecutive victory, their longest winning streak since the start of the 2013 season.
Here’s what we learned from the game:

Drew Brees gets 6,000th completion.

Drew Brees crosses yet another historic threshold
With his 23-yard completion to Michael Thomas early in the third quarter, Drew Brees joined Brett Favre (6,300) and Peyton Manning (6,125) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to complete 6,000 passes in his career. Brees, who played in his 240th career game Sunday, reached the milestone in the fewest games, surpassing Manning (259 games) and Favre (286). At this point, I’m not sure what records Brees has left to break or milestones to accomplish in his stellar career.

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...4a6990a27d.jpg

Mark Ingram is going to feel this one on Monday
Mark Ingram was a big weapon for the Saints offense in this slugfest. He rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries and added six receptions for 24 yards. Along the way, he endured several big-time hits, including a submarine tackle on a second quarter screen play that resulted in Ingram face-planting awkwardly on the turf. Ingram earned his money Sunday.
Ingram Part II
Captain Obvious here, but Ingram’s two fourth-quarter fumbles were killers. The miscues kept the Bears in the game and made things a little too close for comfort. One fourth-quarter fumble when you’re trying to protect the lead in a two-score game is bad. Two is inexcusable. Ingram was temporarily benched for fumbling issues a year ago and might be in danger of losing his job to Alvin Kamara if his case of the butterfingers continues.

The Saints matched the Bears in the trenches
You know what you’re getting with the Bears. They are one of the most physical teams in the league and there’s not a lot of trickery involved in their play on either side of the ball. The Saints knew they were getting into a slugfest and rose to the challenge. The Bears got after the Saints up front early and controlled both lines of scrimmage before New Orleans answered. The Saints' offensive line got it going midway through the second quarter, leading the way on a decisive touchdown drive and clearing the path for several nice runs. The rest of the game was a standoff.

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Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

What I learned...

Lattimore is a shut down F'ing CB.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Brees was solid today, not spectacular but solid.

Lots to clean up though ...

Confusion at pre snap on D.
Missed assignments
Turnovers (2 by Ingram) nearly cost us the game. He gotta to know against a Bears defense, they thrive on strips. Know when to go down. Credit the Bears defense though. They are solid.
Penalties

A experienced QB would have made us pay today. I'll take the win every day but we need to clean this up. We won't be so lucky against better offensive teams.

Good teams find ways to win even if it's ugly. We are good but can become a lot better. Keep grinding.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

The Bears are building a juggernaut. They have a good O-line and a good RB. If Trubisky gets a little mor experience and they add another offensive weapon they will be lethal.
Their defence is really, really good on all levels.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Thrown at twice; no completions and an interception... :bng:

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Don't look now, but we're two wins away from matching the win totals from the last couple of years.

Our schedule is brutal this year, thank you RG, but we've still navigated to a 5-2 record. We are what our record says we are. That spells trouble for our opponents.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Brees was 23/28 (82%) for 299yds and you would think we had a rough day passing.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Drew had an exceptional completion percentage. He got a lot of pressure and made quick, heady plays. I agree we have a lot to clean up but I personally do not see Drew as anything but stellar.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Against a defense that is just as good as the Vikings.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

5 in a row in the NFL is a feat no matter the opponent

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Yes this defense was no joke ... good win

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

The Saints defense has to improve their gap discipline. They completely blew those two big runs. Howard for 50 and Trubisky for 46.

Without those two, the Bears were 61 yards on 29 carries for 2.1 yards per carry and completely outta the game.

The D dominated in the passing game. Trubisky was 14/32 for 164, 5.1 yards/attempt, 46.9 Passer Rating.

Instead, due to boneheaded gap coverage, they gave up 31 rushes for 157 yards at 5.1 yards/attempts.

Pathetic.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

I’m not mad about the two long runs the Bears broke. It happens. We sent the all out blitz and he just happened to slip away. We sold out for the safety and Howard was able to make us pay. **** happens when you’re playing aggressively.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Ken Crawley worries me in run defense and tackling

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

I learned that Willie Snead is being phased out.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

And whenever he doesn't play, our O sucks on third down. 2-8 today.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Well put! These were the kind of games we'd find a way to lose back in the day. Thrilled with how the D is playing. After an 0-2 start, this team is a'rollin -
GO SAINTS!!!

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Awful tackler. Big weakness in his game. Frustrating, because he can really cover.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

I don't know how many times they went at him but I do know one of those wr caught one on him for a first down. All around he played a exceptional game. Crawley also played exceptionally well he just need to become just as aggressive tackling as pass coverage


Lattimore played a great game but Kendall Wright did catch a pass on him. The reason I know it was man cause Kendall went in motion and Lattimore followed. The play in question happen in 2nd quarter 3:41 on the clock. It was 1st and 10 on the 25 went for 13yards. Other than that Lattimore shut it down

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Da Bears seemed to be converting way too many third and longs. Was that so or is that just me?

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Credit Brandon Coleman ... but I don't think Snead is 100% healthy.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

I’m not sure if that was man to man. Might have been a Cover 3.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

We've really got to figure out how to close out games offensively, seriously. I get that we want to run to burn clock, but it seems to me that doesn't necessarily mean we need to jam Ingram up the center. Can we do some misdirection (like we do earlier in the games)? Some end arounds, maybe a flea flicker, a faked end around, something??

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Utah, that's a great observation; know one of those missed gap assignments was Onyemata, and he's got to do better in basic skills...

Without that run, we probably have great field position and another score; run defense gap assignment, responsibilities is Day One Basic...

I'll live with it as long as his pass rating coverage is among league best; we've got this other guy who's coming off reserve, injured status...

If we're in fact preparing for life after Snead, get Carr active now; we're needing what Willie has given to extend drives on 3rd downs...

Don't get how we're using Tommylea Lewis in vertical games where he lacks vertical speed and is giving up over a foot in reach just seems asinine...

We should be using him underneath and swing routes, wearing down those linebackers and safeties for the bigger receivers to take advantage...

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

And I know one other thing - Trey Hendrickson needs more snaps on passing downs - he's the goods...

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

[QUOTE=jeanpierre;773035]And I know one other thing - Trey Hendrickson needs more snaps on passing downs - he's the goods...

I agree JP, i liked what i saw from him at the combine and florida atlantic highlights. Kid looks like he will be really solid with more playing time.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

FWIW, Trey Hendrickson combine numbers were equivalent to Myles Garrett. The talent is there.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

I disagree, that ****'s unacceptable. The Saints rank 30th in the league allowing 4.9 yards per carry. It's one thing when a guy gets beat, that's football. It's another when a guy just blows his responsibility. This stuff is supposed to be worked out in preseason.

Dalvin Cooks had his best run of the season against the Saints
Amheer Abdullah had his best run of the season against the Saints
Johnathan Stewart had his best run of the season against the Saints
Brett Hundley had his best run of the season against the Saints
Aaron Jones had his best run of the season against the Saints
Jordan Howard had his best run of the season against the Saints
Mitch Trubisky had his best run of the season against the Saints

When it happens every three or four games, then it's "oh well, **** happens", when it happens all the time and 7 players in 7 games have had their best runs against us, it's a pattern.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

"The Saints matched the Bears in the trenches"

This. This right here shows me our guys up front are real. We played classic football today and didn't get manhandled. We HAVE to learn to stop the run. I think adjustments can be made.
Also liked how they got Hill the ball. No graham but he's better than Fleener.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Guys blow responsibility all the time. That too, is football. Like I said, they caught us selling out for the big play on both of those long runs. Other than that the run defense was relatively fine. This is a very young defense. There’s going to be bad to go along with the good. We shouldn’t even be having a conversation about what the defense needs to do. They gave up 12 points. The offense needs to get in the way end zone when they hit the red zone. I’m starting to like the idea of a Jimmy Graham trade more and more.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Hill is a killer blocker too. He's a big boy.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Yeah, it's football, it's bad football. Giving up 5.1 yards/att is bad football.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happier than a fat boy with a fudge cycle with how the defense is playing overall, but giving up 4.9 yards per carry for the season sucks. And when it's mental errors or a lack of discipline, then it's just stupid. Like I pointed out earlier, it's not just this game. It's not a fluke, it's a tendency.

I'm with you on Graham. Not only as a red zone threat but we're not exploiting the mid field seam route like we used to. And we could use some serious help on third down. Wish I knew what was going on with Snead.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

We need a Mlb. manti teo just not producing enough when he is in there. I don't know if it has anything to do with less snap plays in game situations or his diagnosis of plays is slow. I did notice when they moved Robertson to mlb and dropped Vacarro into wlb they slowed down that rushing attack

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Grambeaux disappeared in big games. And there was too much emphasis on getting him the ball, even forcing it in. Coleman is coming around.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

No one has stepped up in the middle. None of the DT requires dbl teaming

We need a gap plugging DT that is good against the run.

Our LBers are to easy to get to for opposing OL

Thus YPC is to high.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Only seen little bits but looked likey they held the line ok baring a couple of broken big gains.

Agree though a true dominate run stuffing DT would be a great additions

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

I liked Jimmy Graham but there was too much dependency on him. I would not like to see us return to that.

Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago
 

Not sure it would be like that anymore
Imo
A) Jimmy couldn't carry that load
B) Alvin Kamara
C)Michael Thomas
D) Alvin Kamara
E) Alvin Kamara

I do think another option like Hraham would have helped last night. The offense isn't fully firing in the passing game and another redzone threat would be good.

Id take Graham for a 7th or a Kikaha trade