Another game, another huge home victory. This time it was 45-17 against the division rival Carolina Panthers. With that win the Saints end the regular season at 13-3 and will somehow not get a bye, finishing as the 3 seed in the NFC. The Saints will likely host the Detroit Lions on Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.. The game featured a number of NFL records which I’ll touch on below. Neither defense seemed to interested in trying too hard for most of the first half, but the Saints clamped down in the second half to ease the team to victory. The Saints ran for 5.9 yards per carry and 208 yards while the Panthers ran for 164 yards and 6.8 yards per carry. The running game by both teams was working mostly at will, the difference was the Saints scored at will, while the Panthers wilted as the game wore on. My bullets on the game are below:
- I wasn’t overly impressed at all by Cam Newton in this one. His accuracy was poor and he didn’t really make plays with his feet. He finished with 32 yards rushing and 158 passing. Not exactly impressive against a usually porous Saints’ secondary.
- The Saints finish the season 8-0 for the first time in team history, and just about every single one was a huge blowout. I don’t think anyone wants to face the Saints in the Dome come playoff time.
- Jimmy Graham broke the most receiving yards in NFL history in a season by a tight end record, held previously by Kellen Winslow Sr. Say that three times fast. Unfortunately, Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots also broke the same record, and passed Graham in the process.
- Drew Brees broke his completion % NFL record for a season, as well as completions in a season.
- Chris Ivory is the first Saints’ back to run for over 100 yards this season and looked fantastic.
- Darren Sproles broke the NFL record for most all purpose yards in an NFL season.
- Funny that Sean Payton said “we don’t pay attention to those things” because the last two weeks his play calling was very obviously influenced by the records they were chasing. Good on him to reward his playmakers, they deserve it.
- Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham both had multiple circus catches. I’m just not sure how many guys in the NFL can make plays like them. The Saints better do everything they can to keep Colston, who is in the final year of his contract.
- Isa Abdul-Quddus played for Malcolm Jenkins and did pretty well overall. His big play was a forced fumble on Steve Smith that the Saints would recover for a turnover.
- Jonathan Casillas re-injured his knee and I would assume his season is done.
- The Saints also announced prior to the game that Mark Ingram will have toe surgery and likely be done for the playoffs. Too bad, but after the game Ivory played the Saints still have to feel great about their depth at running back. This is exactly why they should hang on to all four next year.
- Patrick Robinson was awesome. His interception in the end zone was huge.
- What was Carolina thinking allowing that long TD pass to Colston before halftime? Huge miscue there and unacceptable defense.
- Cameron Jordan got consistent pressure all day on Cam Newton. Something to build on for next season.
- Turk McBride was back out there and didn’t do much. I barely remembered he existed.
- Brees was almost entirely awesome but he did throw a horrible pick, and I want to point out that Jermon Bushrod ran down a defensive back to save a touchdown. That was unreal, and awesome. I’m sure that DB will never live that down.
- Martez Wilson got a sack… and a personal foul for a late hit out of bounds.
- Steve Smith’s mouth continues to run. I can’t stand him. No Saints fan can. That guy can’t retire quick enough. I amazes me that the Saints get blasted for class when they go up against clowns like that.
- Probably the combination of a meaningless game and a hungover crowd the morning after new year’s eve in the French Quarter, but the crowd was noticeably quieter than Monday Night. They didn’t seem that into the game for long periods of time.
- Number 76 is eligible was said by the head ref an inordinate number of times. He can thank Gilmore’s injury for extra playing time. Pat McQuistan, shockingly, didn’t catch a pass.
That’s all I got. Stay tuned for the grades… playoff week!
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