Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

If you're a fan of football, it was a great game.

Yeah, you could point to a ref call and a few plays here and there, but we'll get them when it counts most, later in the playoffs. We were the first team to clinch a division. Whiners defense is good, but not that good if they allowed all these points.

WhoDat!

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

-Kamara fumbled and gifted them 7, he did nothing to make it up for it, guy is obviously injured or doesnt care anymore

-As Per we score lightening quick and our D gives away the lead late, year after year, it never changes

Live by the Blitz, Die by the Blitz - Allowing a huge late completion to a TE must be in our DNA

Payton going for 2 early killed us, that FG kick would have been for the tie, not the win if Payton played smart

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

You score 46 points, have 161 special teams yards (Deonte Harris was huge), no INTs by Brees... you should WIN at this level.

Sean Payton continues to run Kamara in the ground. And please stop the Kamara not himself nonsense. He's been force fed and defenders are keying in on him. This is ELiTE football. You can't out run everyone. Why not use Murray who has been terrific all year ?? Stop force feeding AK!!! Pete or someone else needs to tell Payton it's ok to hand the ball off to Murray. Remember how we over used Jimmy Graham, throwing into triple coverage? Same thing now with AK.

Our defense .. specifically the secondary played poorly today.

We let this one get away ... winnable game but you'll have to deal with the Niners again if you want to get to where you want to be in late January.

Disappointing finish but we gotta get over this game and move on. We'll get another chance and hopefully with Cook, Klein and Kiko.

I'm still a believer and Who Dat !

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Came down to the refs. Again. If you don't agree your're not paying attention.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

1. CGJ had his worst game as a pro. 2 stupid penalties to extend a drive that leads to a TD and then he is the one who seems to lose Kittle in coverage.

2. Having Armstead back was huge for the O-line. They did a great job protecting Brees against a really good defence.

3. This might have been Brees best game of the year. 29/40 for 349yds and 5 TDs finding nine different receivers.

4. Jared Cook looked spectacular to start the game having the type of Impact we signed him for. Losing him to a concussion was hard to overcome.

5. I think the D-line did a good job overall. 3 sacks and pretty god pressure throughout. Where they get in trouble is when they abandon their rushing lanes allowing the QB to scramble for yards.

6. Alvin Kamara seems like he isn't fully 100%. He shows some flashes and then he just disappears for long stretches.

7. Good to see Smith back catching passes and getting a TD but I would have liked for him to show more fight on that "no call" on the fake punt.

8. We really missed Alonso and Klein out there. Robertson looked rusty and had a couple missed tackles.

9. If SP wants to keep defences honest when putting Hill back at the QB position he needs to start mixing it up. It can't be run to the outside or trying to throw a bomb every time. Have him sprint out and throw a short pass to make the defence hesitate. Or just hit a slant from the pocket.

10. Harris had a great first half returning the football. It seems like they started to kick it away from him and I can understand why.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

It's a shame that Dean Blandino doesn't understand the holding rule on passes in punt formation. It doesn't work like other passes. On other plays, you have holding before the pass and pass interference afterwards. On punts though, that PI isn't there, but that doesn't mean you can't hold during the pass. If the pass is thrown out of the punt formation, holding can occur at any time... even when the ball is in the air, which is what happened. Horrible understanding of the rules, and the refs suck.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Not surprised or disappointed, I thought we’d lose this one going into it. However, I thought it would be a struggle offensively but it was our defense that lost it.

Oh well, unless something crazy happens we are likely the 3 seed. Unfortunately our defense has regressed a ton through the year, so I don’t think we make it far in the playoffs.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

This game wasn't determined by the players. THis game, like so many others, was determined by the refs. THis is getting old as hell. Roger has ruined NFL football. This is a league directive. But for bull**** calls, the Saints win this game.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

-scored plenty to win today....
-Shanahan is the new Payton
-injuries to the LB’s was huge, was noticeable today
-secondary stunk,
-going for the 2pt conversion was dumb
-going for fake punt, really dumb after we had just turned momentum, and we have arguably the best punter in football.
-Everyone except Payton can see Murray is more valuable than Kamara right now.
-Kamara is not right, right now.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

I don’t really think it’s on the refs... I’ve called that before, but not this game.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

- Need to work on our 2-point conversion plays/execution

- Need to able to play better zone coverage. Jimmy G was getting way too comfortable throwing against man. I feel like we never really forced him to beat us.

- Wish CGJ had been playing further back on that 4th and 2 or at least had safety help if he was going to play that close in man.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

1. Vonn Bell absolutely must be re-signed this offseason. 12 tackles and a sack today. Week-in and week-out he’s our most consistent player in the secondary.

2. Latavius Murray averaged 9.9 YPC. Kamara averaged 1.9 YPC. Also, Kamara has only 1 rushing TD and 1 receiving TD this season.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Also, Nick Bosa is special; he's better than his brother or Chase Young and it's not even close. He's gotta be def rookie of the year

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

ABSOLUTELY this game, just like any other. Once again the league sees to it that the opposition is saved on third down when the game is on the line. No way you can't see it. It happened...again...

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

I think we as a whole are somewhat discounting this. We put up 46 points on the #1 ranked defense. Bosa, Shanahan, Debo, Sanders etc ... they have a very good ball club. Well coached team.

Are they the better team right now? Sure but let's check back in a month when we have a 100% Armstead, Cook for a full game of Kiko/Klein when everything is on the line.

Credit Shanahan for attacking the middle of the field with our back ups. I expect a different outcome in month when it matters most.

Offensively, they blew up today. Tough to find much wrong there. Not a complete game but we'll get there.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

I can’t argue against the penalties on us. We would be livid if they didn’t get call for us. The fake punt, now that’s another story. Blandino and Charles Davis were adamant that it wasn’t PI. But wouldn’t elaborate on the holding case.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Penalties were not the key factor (this time)


The two kiko/klein linebackers out was huge
Lead to 1) no pass rush (Jimmy G was getting a 6 second sun tan out there)
2) o-line put a helmet on our d-line and runners were going free thru the first 6 yards

Insistence on going to Kamara when he was being game planned and we were moving with nearly every other inside or passing play - Murray was pounding for 9 yard average

We could not move at all on screens or outside checkdowns

Payton’s bone headed 2 point conversion choice and 4th down fake punt throw when they could have pinned SF inside the 5

Brees’ two fourth quarter drives were classic

We were the first team to move on SF
Get out guys back and take them in the NCFCG

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Ill never understand some of the personnel matchups at times, like gardner on Kittle. Apple on whoever he was on getting burnt. Like that last week when Lattimore should of been on Ridley but wasnt.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Once Sanders pulled the defender down for the TD and the refs didn't watch the replay I knew it was over.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

We just went toe to toe in a very physical game with the team we will face in the NFCCG and arguably the or one of the best teams in the league.. Did it without our TE and two starting line backers. We played as good and as badly as they did.. lost by less than a field goal.

We put up 6 ****ing TDs, no INTs, 350+/- passing yards, 100+ yards of rushing and all some people can do is ***** and ****ing moan about the coach and offense. Some of you may have read about the sport but you dont know dick about the game.

That was an amazing game and neither team should hang their head, both teams are equally as special and lethal. :bng:

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Losing Jared Cook changed the outcome of that game.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

They had no answer for him.

IMO cheap shot tackle 2 yards in the end zone but whateva.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

I’d like to know how you send a receiver to the locker room for concussion protocol, never to return, illegally... and you get to stay in the game. Seems to me like the player who creates the concussion, if illegally, should be sidelined as well.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Great game Saint fans! Nail bitter on the edge of the seat game! Best of luck the remainder of your season and should it come down to these two teams meeting in the playoffs will be just as epic!

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Quick Hits

• After what I saw today from the linebacking performance, I've got plenty of ammo now to defend A.J. Klein and Kiko Alonso; Davis had moments but was ineffective without his regular mates...
  
  
• Perhaps it was the early triple coverage on Mike Thomas, but Brees was back to his old self, peppering the ball about multiple receivers...
  
  
• As of late, seems every key play on a drive, defenses know Sean Payton's tendencies and have their defenses in place to stop us, they even know where the man dines...
  
  
• Absolutely love Alvin Kamara, but he's not a bellcow running back, he's at his best paired with a power back, now Murray...
  
  
• Some are quick to say it wasn't the play-calling as we hung 46 pts on the best defense in football; it was the inconsistency on key downs that cost a win...
  
  
• Our offensive line gave up "0" sacks, but Brees was harassed early and often and while they locked down on Kamara, Murray had success...
  
  
• For the first time all season Mike Thomas was limited, but even then, game on the line, he showed why he's the best in the NFL today...
  
  
• George Kittle is now the best Tight End in the NFL. Not only did he have the game-winning play, he was often left alone to deal with Cam Jordan...
  
  
• Not sure what's going on in the Saints Secondary meetings, but Apple, PJ Williams, Marcus Williams have all lost their eye of the tiger moxie...
  
  
• Well, it took a game like this to fully expose him, but Larry Warford has been mailing in the effort since he got his guaranteed money - some guys you just don't pay before the work...
  
  
• Not sure what's going on with Tre'Quan Smith, but he looked completely scared when he converted a reception for a first down...
  
  
• Recurring Theme of Payton's tenure is making personnel moves then not trusting them as I circle back to why Payton's not using Murray more?
  
  
• When Free Agency comes in the Spring, I'm getting two reliable guards and a CB2 and I'm keeping Onyemata, as Tuttle made injury-prone Rankins expendable...

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Sean Fazende nails some great points, worth the read...

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Loss is on coaching Allen for schemes in certain situations and Payton for going for 2, heavy taysom usage early and that asinine punt fake

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Tre always looks scared lol

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

OutCoached!

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Kamara will bounce back. When the #1 defense game plans to shutdown a player that's kinda what's going to happen. Still though, we were never out of it. We just scored almost 50 pts on the #1 defense. If someone told me that I say we win 100%.

If Cook stays upright and they lose Kittle different outcome. It was going to be Cook's one monster game of the season like he has been doing his whole career. He was on his way to over 200 yds and a fews TD's.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

I'll say this, as tough of a loss as it was, I feel better about our chances of winning it all now than I did leading up to the game. We've seen what our defense was capable of. Hopefully key guys get back in time and we can shore that up again. The way we put up points yesterday was something we have yet to see. This team puts it all together and we can win it all.

I can already see it now, this is going to play out exactly like last year, only we'll be on the good end. We lose at home to SF, and end up playing them on the road in the NFCCG in their house and win...

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No joke, that really sums in up. Coaches have the responsibility to put their players in the best situations to be successful. Our coaches failed them yesterday.
CJGJ I love the guy but he’s put this team in numerous bad positions all season. Roughing the kicker penalties, burned on long passes and he has to be leading the league with penalties on 3rd down. Should he take a seat, NO because the coaches see something in him and I do too. But some of this is situational football. A rookie single covering one of the best TE’s in football at that point in the game is puzzling. There’s a lot of blame to go around and most of it should fall on coach Payton and his staff.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Lookin forward to it. WHO DAT!

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

I TOTALLY AGREE!

I firmly believe that had he been ok to continue in the game he would have scored at least another couple of TD's! He was just shaking off defenders and gaining great yardage! :-)

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Am I the only one on here that thought that Eli Apple looked like a lost high schooler on the field yesterday? Every time I turned around, he was 2, 3, 4 steps behind the receiver.

That said, I didn't watch the game until 10:30 last night, so I may have fallen asleep during part of it. :p

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

You didn't miss a thing except for Apple being targeted early and often then consistently giving up the big play.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

Even though our offense exploded, would sure be nice if they would have pushed for Emmanuel Sanders trade when it was available.

Re: Observations from tough close loss to the Whiners
 

This is really classy of Kittle to say...