The first home game of the season is upon us and this feels like a must win given the Saints’ 0-2 start. If they lose this game, a game they are the overwhelming favorite in, an 0-3 start pretty much kisses any chance at the playoffs goodbye in my mind. Rebounding from that would take more than a miracle. At 1-2, however, you’d feel the odds are still decent. So this is a big one folks, the Saints need to win and they need to win now. Here are five things I’ll be looking for:
1. Just win baby!
Honestly the X’s and O’s don’t matter to me as much in this game. I’ll still list a few things I’m interested in below, but this comes down to finding a way to win. Playing well, playing ugly, doesn’t matter. As long as the final score has the Saints with more points. And yes I realize that’s the case every week so this item may seem stupid, but I’m highlighting the fact that this team just needs to figure out how to win a game by any means necessary. They were so close in weeks 1 and 2 that they could taste it. It just came down to execution at the end. The team needs to finish. You know emphasis on closing out games was put down hard this week and I’d love to see it come to fruition.
2. #FreeKhiry
We’ve been talking about Khiry Robinson and his potential for a while now. And yes, Pierre Thomas and Travaris Cadet are both in line to see more snaps at running back with Mark Ingram absent. But more than anything, I believe this is now the Khiry show until Ingram can come back. This means he’ll see the lion share of the carries. Probably at least 15 touches. I’m sure he’s wanted this opportunity and he’s finally going to get it. Can you hang on to the football? Can he pass protect? Can he do all the little things that will encourage the Saints to play him more when they don’t have to out of necessity? This game will answer a lot of those questions.
3. Can the Saints get a pass rush going?
Patrick Robinson isn’t going to transform into a serviceable corner at this point, and turnovers just don’t seem to fall in the defense’s lap. Therefore the pass rush has to get going if we’re going to see any real improvement. The Vikings gave up 6 sacks and threw 4 interceptions against the Patriots at home last week without Adrian Peterson in the lineup, so that’s a promising stat. The defense is finally home and this is a big opportunity for Junior Galette, Cam Jordan and company to get going. More sacks and general pressure leads to more turnovers. It can also mask glaring deficiencies like P-Rob at corner.
4. Containing Cordarrelle Patterson
Patterson is literally the only player on this team offensively that the Saints need to make sure they pay attention to. Matt Asiata, Greg Jennings and Kyle Rudolph are all serviceable players (ok Asiata might not be) but speaking generally those are not big play threat guys every time they touch the ball like Patterson. Patterson is one of those electric players that is a threat to go off every single time he touches the ball. If the Vikings are going to score, the Saints need to force them to find a different way to do it than by feeding Patterson the ball.
5. Home cooking
I’m curious just to see the vibe of the first home game. Are the fans into it? Will they be quick to get down on the team if they struggle? Is P-Rob the target of boos? Or do they just come out and obliterate the Vikings? I think if the Saints come out quick and blitz the Vikings, all will be forgiven and the fans will have a grand old time. At this point we’re all clinging to hope that home is the medicine the Saints need to get back on track. I think we’ll know a lot more about that a quarter into this game. Is this team just that much better at home, or are they just bad this year?
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