What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Ramczyk shines, running game is fine, more

There wasn’t much argument that the matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans would be tough.

And throughout two halves, the two teams were involved in a tight contest before New Orleans emerged with a 30-28 win on a Wil Lutz 58-yard field goal as time expired to give the Saints their first season opening win since 2013.

Here are three-and-out takes:

TEXANS JUMP ON MISTAKES

In an up-and-down game, the Saints were their worst enemy at times Monday night.

Brees threw a costly interception with the Saints in the red zone, and the Texans made him pay. On the ensuing possession, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson engineered a seven-play, 94-yard drive, which Watson capped off with a 21-yard touchdown run to put the Texans on the board first.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.town...ze=1700%2C1033

Defensive lineman Mitchell Loewen jumped offsides early in the third quarter to negate a Marshon Lattimore interception. On the next play, Watson fired a 16-yard scoring pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

The Saints also inexplicably allowed the Texans to score a game-tying touchdown with less than a minute in the game. The Texans missed the extra point, but a questionable roughing the kicker penalty allowed the Texans to redo the kick and make it to take a 28-27 lead.

Meanwhile, the Texans appeared to have a bend, but don’t break mentality on defense early in the game by keeping the Saints out of the end zone.

The Saints got in scoring position on two of their first three possessions but only had the turnover and a field goal to show for it.

This shouldn’t surprise too much, though. Houston defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was once called “Peyton Manning’s Kryptonite” for his ability to scheme against the future Hall of Famer.

It took until the second half, but the Saints offense finally woke up to overcome a 14-3 deficit and start the season at 1-0.

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Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

1. Ryan Ramczyk is a STUD. Holding his own like he did against JJ Watt is no small feat.

2. Trey Hendrickson played his best game as a pro and doubled his career sack number. He looked faster and stronger than he has in the past. Looks like he is really making a third-year jump.

3. Contain was atrocious throughout the game. We gave up the outside too many times and way to easy. The good thing baout this is that it is correctable with film study and coaching.

4. The pressure we didn't see at all in the pre season just showed up and down Watson went. Again and again and again.

5. Watson is a really good QB and the Texans have an explosive offensive. They will cause problems for teams.

6. Marcus Williams INT was really really impressive considering the amount of ground he covered to get there. Hopefully this gives him some confidence early on.

7. Ted Ginn Jr played a sneaky-good game surpassing 100 yds without anybody really noticing. The "old man" still has some speed left.

8. Tre'Quan Smith had 2 receptions on 2 targets, one for a TD. Always important to make all you can of your chances so Brees will keep looking your way.

9. Kamara moves like liquid velvet. He is so smooth and fluid that its crazy.

10. There are a lot of things to clean up and work on but all in all this was a good performance and a good platform to start the season. its much more fun cleaning up mistakes at 1-0 than 0-1.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

1. 26 & 25 are my least favorite numbers. They will be instrumental in victories, just not ours.

2. We know how to win. Down 3 Quarters to beat an 11-5 (last season) team.

3. We lead the NFC South

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

My #1 gripe was M. Williams tackling has to improve. He ducked his head and missed all of Watson on that TD run.
I’ll give our DB’s a break, Texans made some big catches, all were highly contested. Their receivers weren’t running wide open all over the field. Even on the Texans last two catches, our guys were there. Texans have elite pass catchers and a very accurate QB.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

We need our DTs back. They ran up the middle too easy. It looks like its us verse the refs as usual but it makes the victory even sweeter. I just dont get how they kept Hopkins in single coverage. I know Lat is great but nobody is stopping that guy in 1 on 1 coverage with the rules the way they are in todays game.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Kamara needs to improve

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Agreed with the post(s) above.

Once David O and Rankins get back, it changes everything.

Saints always seem to "get it together" after game #2.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Lots of broken tackles up the middle. Those things will improve now that the real hitting has begun.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Apple played to good game, only to get beat once on a circus catch.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Considering game 1 has become something of a 5th preseason game, I’m pretty satisfied. The bad things can and will be corrected.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

6 sacks.

That pass rush was there last night ... consistently. Watson took a beating. Credit the pure athletic ability for him to move outside the pocket and create things running. Trust me, that will get cleaned up.

It's just the referee's you can't clean up.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

-Brees, Thomas, Kamara, and Jordan are beasts.
-Lutz and Morstead are the best duo in the NFL.
-Cook was a huge signing.
-The OL is the truth.
-Davis is the truth.
-Ginn still has it.
-It looks like Hendrickson is ready to realize his potential.
-Murray played well.
-Klien made some plays.
-T. Hill with a great catch.
-High effort all around.

-Onyemata was missed.
-Davenport was over matched, ineffective, and out of position often.
-Lattimore was scuffed up by one of the best.
-Announcers pegged PJ. Good in short area and around the line. Not good deep and against speed.
-Coach still occasionally misses on situations. 2nd and 3 after a Kamara run. Pass, pass punt. Also, pass dominant is the first half = 3 points.

1-0 with a lot of positives and a lot of coachable moments.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

False. Go back and watch the game ... Tunsil poked him in the eye early on but Davenport was effective last night.

Not sure how much you watch other teams in the past but Tunsil is a very good tackle.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Good list, I'll add that I missed seeing Hangry Ingram bouncing around. (Didn't think I would)

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Are we really on pace for 96 sacks this year? :bng:

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Clean up the mistakes and we win that game going away.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

We allowed 180 yards rushing... that's too much.
Stat sheet shows a Kamara fumble, but he was ruled down. Not sure why the stat sheet is inaccurate.
MT was 10 of 13 targets. Hopkins was way worse percentage wise.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=401128021

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

He actually wasn't ruled down. The Texans never challenged ot because we picked the ball back up and only ran another couple yards.

He was down by contact, but no one ever disputed it.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Anyone else notice how the Texans only had single coverage on Mike Thomas last night? Shows that they respect Jared Cook.

D Coordinator Romeo Crennel called a good game.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Yeah I noticed that too.

What a game. That was awesome.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Not sure which poster thought Ted Ginn Jr would be a veteran cut this off season ..

Jr was 7 - 7 (targets) 101 yards with a long of 30 vs Texans.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

We just might have the BEST KICKER in the league. Will Lutz.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Make that "BEST KICKERS" in the league.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Harris needs to learn when to bring it out from the end zone. We started with poor field position instead of the 25 yard line. We've got to fix that along with fielding punts inside the ten yard line. That young man needs to watch film of other returners to get his timing down.

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Guilty as charged! :(

Re: What we learned from Saints' win vs. Texans
 

Murray will serve us well