The play of the game that turned it all around

Discussion in 'OTHER SPORTS Forum' started by islstl, Jan 21, 2007.

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  1. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    With the Saints with a first and 10 at the Bears 29 and the score 16-14, Drew Brees missed seeing a wide open Terrance Copper over the middle and ended up throwing the ball way too late and it fell imcomplete.

    I really think had the Saints made that play and had the Bears back on their heels more than likely inside the 15 yard line (maybe even a touchdown as their was no safety help over the top), the Saints get that go ahead touchdown on the board and it's suddenly 21-16. Put Rex back on the field in that situation and I think the game is totally in the hands of the Saints.

    Hats off to the Bears defense. They played extremely well. We saw things today we hadn't seen in a long time by this team (turnovers, a false start penalty, a block in the back on a punt return, pressure on Brees with him fumbling the ball). Brees actually played a great game, considering the amount of pressure applied by the Bears.

    Joe Horn's absence was big today. He would have had lots of single coverage and would have provided another legit threat in the passing game. I feel really bad for him since his play making ability could have been the difference in this game.

    For anyone questioning the play calling by Payton, I don't for the most part. The Bears gameplan was to take away the run. They had 8 in the box all day long. The Fox announcers even said that Lovie had gameplanned to take away the run. The only times I was dissappointed was when it was 3rd and short and I thought that was opportunity for those delayed runs we've been so effective with all year long.

    Drew Brees is a winner. He is a Super Bowl winning caliber QB. No doubt about it. The Saints are in great hands.
     
    islstl, Jan 21, 2007
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  2. DownOnTheBayou

    DownOnTheBayou Say My Name!

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    I agree. Not coming away with points on that drive killed us. I also thought field position was key today. The Saints seemed to always start a drive deep in their own territory today. The kickoff and punt returns were horrible today, exact opposite of last week. But going away from the run really hurt today. Can't throw all day against this defense and expect to win. Ill say it again, Payton had a bad gameplan today.
     
    DownOnTheBayou, Jan 21, 2007
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  3. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    Disagree with the gameplan being bad. I don't think any Saints fan would have been happy watching us force a running game that wasn't there, only to create 3rd and long all day long. That, my friend, would have been a poor gameplan.
     
    islstl, Jan 21, 2007
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  4. MFn G I M P

    MFn G I M P Founding Member

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    If ifs and buts were candy and nuts we'd all have a wonderful christmas.
     
    MFn G I M P, Jan 21, 2007
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  5. Fishhead

    Fishhead Founding Member

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    I agree. Of the turnovers, only one was an interception. Colston's fumble wasn't because we passed, but because he didn't hold on to the ball. The kickoff fumble, though questionable, had nothing to do with the gameplan. And Brees' fumble was due to lack of protection, a completely botched assignment. Turnovers lost the game, not gameplan.
    I do agree, however, that the bad throw by Brees to Copper was crucial. Then to bring in "Sir Hooksalot" to try the field goal???? Every kickoff was an adventure. I was waiting for one to go out of bounds, and finally it happened. I know Carney doesn't have a huge leg anymore, but I would've run a fake before I let Mr. Long Leg try that FG. Huge momentum swing, and it was all downhill from there.
     
    Fishhead, Jan 21, 2007
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  6. DownOnTheBayou

    DownOnTheBayou Say My Name!

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    That's why you run out of a passing situation. Put in 3 and 4 wideouts and run up the gut. That was wide open with the Bears rushing up field all day. You can't expect to win not running the ball, sorry.
     
    DownOnTheBayou, Jan 21, 2007
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  7. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    That part I agree about. I thought this was the only part of the gameplan in which he fell in love with the pass a bit too much.

    There would have been many offenses in this league that could say they would have compiled 350 yards of offense under these conditions and against a defense that played that well.

    It's all about perspective. Brees nutted up. It just wasn't enough of an overall team effort to win.
     
    islstl, Jan 21, 2007
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  8. SabanFan

    SabanFan The voice of reason

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    I really didn't like Reggie Bush going all T.O. on that scoring play.
     
    SabanFan, Jan 21, 2007
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  9. LSUGradin99

    LSUGradin99 I Bleedeth Purple 'N Gold

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    I was just about to say that his TD is the play that actually turned the game around. With one move, he ignited a fire in the entire Bears team. All momentum was instantly gained and lost on the same play.
     
    LSUGradin99, Jan 21, 2007
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  10. TwistedTiger

    TwistedTiger Founding Member

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    Are you joking? Do you really think a flip and dance is what fired up the bears? The bears didn't play any better or worse after the Bush TD the saints just continued to put the ball on the ground.
     
    TwistedTiger, Jan 21, 2007
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