Saints Nation: History! Saints Win on the Road in Playoffs Over Eagles 26-24

The eating Popeye's chicken and drinking green Gatorade trend spread like wildfire in the last 48 hours amongst the Saints fan base. Anything to break the road curse that has afflicted the team both this season and in their playoff history. Whatever is responsible for the win, it didn't come easy, but a last second 32 yard field goal by Shayne Graham as time expired sends the Saints to the divisional round of the playoffs in Seattle next week. That's the first time in team history the Saints have ever won a playoff game on the road, and it gives them a chance to continue in the postseason. See my bullets on the game below.

• When you ask me what I think the road woes are most attributable to, I would have said the really poor play of the offensive line. No way that was the case today, though. Top to bottom, everyone on the offensive line was lights out, and while I'd admit Terron Armstead was the weak link, he played a quite good game himself. Armstead gave sack master Trent Cole all he could handle.
• I have to give Sean Payton credit for the Armstead and Shayne Graham moves. He caught a lot of heat after the Carolina game for that decision, one that possibly cost him the 2nd seed, but there is no doubt those two came to play and were critical to the team's success. I can't imagine Garrett Hartley would have helped the Saints win that game.Graham was 4 for 4, including the game winner as time expired from 32 yards out. He also hit a 46 yarder as the half expired.
• Drew Brees performed as poorly in the first half as I've seen him play all year. It was first half against the Rams bad, or last season in the Georgia Dome bad. Two back breaking interceptions, and just a slew of poor throws. 
• In the second half Brees started to make plays, but credit the run game and the defense for holding it together while he was off.
• The Saints' run defense was OUTSTANDING. They bottled up LeSean McCoy all night long. He had 21 carries for 77 yards. I couldn't have dreamed of a better performance there.
• 3rd down defense was even better. The Eagles were a woeful 3 for 12 on 3rd down. Huge to do that on the road.
• Despite focusin on and locking down McCoy, Keenan Lewis was so effective in man that DeSean Jackson couldn't do anything either. Jackson had just 3 catches for 53 yards and it was all after Lewis left with a concussion.
• Speaking of Lewis leaving with a concussion, the Saints' defense was toast once that happened. Rod Sweeting was a starting corner at that point and picked on mercilessly. Corey White wasn't exactly holding it down either. No Keenan Lewis was a game changer. Hopefully he's good to go next Saturday.
• The Saints ran for 185 yards. Who saw that coming?!?! Mark Ingram was a BEAST, rushing for 97, and Khiry Robinson chipped in a very critical 45 of his own. 
• I honestly don't think the Saints ran the QB sneak all season except maybe once or twice at the goal line all season. That was a go to play in the playoffs though. Any short yardage situation it was used, and it was always used successfully. I have been desperately asking for this for a while on inches to go plays, and sure enough it works!
• The Eagles' defense may have been 32nd against the pass, but they played exceptional well on the back end. Two picks, just 249 yards yielded. Graham has just 3 catches for 44 yards and Colston had 2 for 16. Obviously they dared the Saints to run, and for the most part they did.
• The Saints had a 36 to 32 run to pass ratio. You may never see that again by a Sean Payton coached team, folks.
• The Saints made the interesting defensive decision to drop 7 or 8 in coverage almost at all times. The few times they did get to Nick Folk it was a coverage pressure. Folk had plenty of time but often nowhere to go. 
• The Saints tackled exceptionally well in this game. Curtis Lofton in particular was a rock.
• Injuries that I saw were Akiem Hicks who couldn't finish the game, possibly Brodrick Bunkley who played a lot less in the 2nd half giving way to John Jenkins, Keenan Lewis with the concussion and Parys Haralson with a chest injury. Of those of course Lewis is the most critical, but I do think both he and Hicks will be back next week. Haralson is big to have back too, though, because the Saints need him against a run heavy Seattle team. Haralson against the run is MUCH better than Will Herring, as we saw in this game. And I just read Haralson has a torn pectoral muscle. Yep, he's done for a long while. Ouch.
• With Lewis out and Greer, Robinson and Vaccaro out too, the Saints' backfield was White, Sweeting, Jenkins and Harper. Obviously the Eagles started to move the ball. I just hope Lewis comes back because if not, Russell Wilson may break Peyton Manning's passing record for the season this year in one game.
• Darren Sproles actually did a decent job returning in this game and his last one was huge. He also got a horse collar tacked on to set up the Saints perfectly. It reminded me of the 49ers game where they set up field position on the final drive by hitting Sproles on a fair catch.
• Take notes aspiring coaches, Sean Payton once again showed how you manage the clock perfectly to end the game. It also reminded me of the way the 49ers game ended.
• Thomas Morstead had his worst game of the season. He just didn't get his normal boom in the cold conditions. 
• Riley Cooper dropped an easy 3rd down reception that would have been huge yardage. Serves him right. It reminded me of the drop by Frank Gore in the 49ers game. Lots of similarities to that game I thought. 

See you guys in Seattle!