Rating: (0 votes - average)

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.



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.

more on NOLA

SmashMouth

John McClain's takeaways from Saints 30, Texans 28 - Chron. com

Crusader

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.

W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.

SmashMouth

SmashMouth

TheOak

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

cmike

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.

darksoul35

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.

WillMacKenzie

Kamara needs to improve

K Major

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.