(As OffBeat Saints/Madden analyst Chris Lee promised last week, Philip H. Anselmo of Down and Arson Anthem is here this week with commentary after the Saints’ Thanksgiving win over the Dallas Cowboys.)
How big was the Saints thrilling come-from-behind 30-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving afternoon? Huge. Enormous. Titanic.
When it was initially announced the Saints would visit the Cowboys in their brand new, high-tech stadium on Thanksgiving before this 2010 season started, most of us “Saintanics” pulled out our collective calendars and circled the date. Not even winning Super Bowl 44 could wash away the bitter taste of 2009’s defeat at the hands of the Tony Romo-led Cowboys on that humbling day in the Superdome. The Saints went into that game 13-0, and got flat-out beaten in every aspect of the game, losing for the first time that magical season, and spoiling what could’ve possibly been an undefeated record.
By all rights, the Cowboys were a team playing with nothing to gain but “back-to-back victories over the Saints” bragging rights and/or just plain pride. It’s no secret that teams in their particular position play the role of spoiler well, and it was no secret the Cowboys had been playing some inspired ball with back-up QB John Kitna under center. The old warhorse has played increasingly well since Romo went down with a broken collarbone in week seven against the NY Giants.
But the Saints weren’t without a storyline coming into this game. The long- awaited return of RB Reggie Bush had Saints fans everywhere anxious to see him on the field after being sidelined with a broken fibula vs. San Francisco in week two. For over a month, “experts” all around the league have prognosticated that with a mended Bush back in the line-up, an already potent Saints O would be even more dangerous. Well, to say that Bush’s return to the field was dangerous would be an understatement. To say he was rusty would be fair, if not 100 percent accurate.
I consider “true” Saints football an elite thing (see 2009’s success merged with the previous three weeks). This was a game made up of two storied quarters for the Saints that were “truly” played in the first and fourth.
The Saints came out strong in the early going despite a holding call on RT Jon “The Comb” Stinchcomb that looked conspicuous. The reason I bring this up is because it’s a subject that ticks me off. To be sure, “The Comb” has had a less-than-stellar showing at times this season, especially coming off a Pro Bowl effort a year ago, but he wasn’t guilty on this call.
WR Devery Henderson made huge strides to redeem himself on the year catching two balls early. His second catch was an amazing display of concentration as QB Drew Brees sent the rock deep centerfield to the speedster. With Dallas CB Alan Ball hanging all over him (pass interference was called), Henderson somehow snagged the ball, which set up a first-and-goal. Bruising rookie RB Chris Ivory continued to show why he’s gaining the trust of head coach Sean Payton in short yardage situations as ran it up the gut for a three-yard TD, his second of the season, to put the Saints up 7-0.
Saints DE Will Smith forced an interception on the Cowboys next possession as he batted a Kitna pass into his own arms and took off with the ball, only to put the ball on the turf where it was covered by Tracy Porter. The Saints D was very impressive in the early going showing a strong run-stopping effort. This 2010 version of the Saints D-line is a much-improved unit in that department to say the least. The additions of veteran DEs Alex Brown and “Big” Jimmy Wilkerson, as well as returning DT’s Remi “The FroHawk” Ayodele and Sedrick “Big Sed” Ellis, who’s having a Pro Bowl-type year (finally!!!) seems to be paying huge dividends. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ unit is currently ranked third overall in the league.
On the next possession, Dallas DE DeMarcus Ware sacked Brees; a miserable reminder of last year’s loss, forcing much-maligned kicker Garrett Hartley to trot out onto the field. The way Hartley has played this year, no three-pointer is a “gimme”, but he banged the ball through the uprights from exactly 50 yards away giving the Saints a 10-0 lead. Thankfully Ware’s takedown of Brees was his only on the day, more a quick flashback than reoccurring nightmare, showing why the Saints O-line is one of the best in the entire league when playing lights-out, full-go.
The next Dallas possession stalled when an early, bad snap out of the shotgun position discombobulated Cowboy QB Kitna, but the vet fell on the ball deep in Dallas territory, forcing a punt.
The Saints took over and Brees connected with Henderson again on a deep route that at first glance looked like a beautiful head’s-up play by No. 19 resulting in a TD, but it was called back after review and ruled a catch on the Cowboy six yard line. Once again, brutal RB Chris “Tower of” Ivory tore a hole in the center of the Dallas D-line, scoring his second TD of the day, third on the year and extended the Saints lead to 17-0.
The Saints D continued to show dominance as they stopped the Cowboys on a semi-desperate fourth-1. LBs Jonathan Vilma (8.3), Danny Clark (4.2) and Scott Shanle (7.0) along with DT “Big Sed” Ellis (5.1) led the team in tackles.
The next Saints possession was one where QB Drew Brees managed his first incompletion of the day on third-and-long. Pro Bowl hopeful Thomas Morstead banged off a 56-yard punt that was downed at the Cowboy 18.
Dallas managed their first points of the day in the second quarter after a screen from Kitna to Felix Jones ate up formidable yardage, but the Saints staunch D held them to a 21-yard David Buehler FG, making the game 17-3 Saints.
The next Saints possession stalled when Pro Bowl Guard Jahri Evans was busted for a holding penalty that looked as dubious as the earlier one called on “The Comb”. Later in the series, Brees looked all but sacked when out of nowhere he managed to squeeze out a shovel pass to RB Julius Jones for a key first down. WR Marques Colston snagged another sizeable chunk of yardage as Brees hit him in stride crossing midfield, but the drive stalled. Hartley cracked a 42-yard FG making it 20-3, Saints.
The Cowboys drove down the field on the next possession with nifty passes from Kitna to WR Miles Austin and TE Jason Witten but the Saints D would not yield a TD, allowing only another Buehler FG, making it 20-6, Saints at half.
Dallas got the ball to open the third quarter and drove it methodically down the field. In one big, eye-opening play, Kitna got the rock into the hands of WR Miles Austin on a successful TD-scoring end around, closing the gap to 17-13, Saints. Not to spew sour grape juice, but Cowboys TE Jason Witten got away with blatantly holding FS Malcolm Jenkins in a chokehold that’d make an MMA enthusiast proud. Had the referee(s) made the correct call (“Holding, Dallas!”), it’s not likely the Cowboys score six points.
At this point, the tide felt like it was turning. Despite starting strong, the Saints defensive unit seemed to be either wearing down or losing focus. Several players were guilty of shabby tackling, especially CB Tracy Porter. Don’t get me wrong, Porter possesses the skills to “turn it on” when the time presents itself, but he does give up significant amount of yards after initial contact. He’s often out of position and forced into playing catch-up. On a whole, the Saints had completely dominated the game up to this point, but perception was in the Cowboys favor.
On the Saints first possession of the second half, Brees found Lance Moore for a nifty 1st-down catch and Ivory broke one for a gain of 17-yrds and a first down. Reggie Bush found his only positive play of the day here as he caught a perfectly thrown ball for a 1st down. Brees found Colston again down the sidelines where the 6-4” receiver went out of bounds at the 18-yard line. The drive stalled in field goal range, and Hartley nailed a 29-yarder, extending the Saints lead to 23-13.
Dallas was forced to punt on their next possession, and for the first time all afternoon Bush was set to return the ball. The chants of “Reggie! Reggie!” could be heard on television as he fielded the rock with room in front of him, only to fumble deep in Saints territory. The Cowboys took over and after three tries, RB Marion Barber rolled over a pile of linemen and into the end zone on fourth-and-goal, tightening-up the game at an uncomfortable 23-20, Saints.
At this point in the game there was an absolute sense of urgency, but after some questionable offensive calls and/or execution on the Saints next possession, the O uncharacteristically turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert a fourth-and-short. Sometimes when the Saints attempt to be creative on offense, the on-field translation can look extremely unorganized and messy.
Once again, momentum seemed to be going the Cowboys way, and a familiar sinking feeling arose in my fat belly and I actually questioned the issue aloud: “Could the Saints fall victim to a Dallas come-from-behind victory?” Thank goodness this is a game of four quarters.
Dallas took over on offense, but an angry Saints D prevailed. DT “Big Sed” Ellis forced a fumble, but the Cowboys recovered. The Saints forced an eventual stop just before the third quarter wound down. The fourth quarter would reveal exactly what kind of football team the 2010 Saints are, more than any other game this season.
The Saints had the ball to start the 4th and the gun-slinging side of Brees reared its ugly mug as he threw an INT, his only of the day, his 16th of the season. The ball bounced off the hands of rookie TE Jimmy Graham and into the waiting hands of SS Gerald Sensabaugh. The 6-6” Graham is turning out to be an excellent prospect, but on this play, break out the asterisks because the INT was on him.
And then like damned clockwork, it happened. Dallas capitalized. Kitna zipped the rock to WR Roy Williams for a first-and-goal situation. On third down, RB Tashard Choice nudged the rock into the end zone, knocking Ayodele’s helmet askew, and for the first time in the entire game, the Cowboys took the lead 27-23 with 5:51 remaining on the clock.
Then the Saints had their work cut out for them, but with Drew Brees in league with every Saints fan huddled around TV sets everywhere, there was always a feeling of “We can pull this off!”
But the Saints O sputtered. The Cowboys were rocking and the Saints looked flat. Dallas forced another Morstead punt, and of all unthinkable prophecies, it looked as if the Saints were collectively choking. The D looked gassed, the Cowboys looked the more confident team, and they’d proved they could move the ball. The big question was how could the Saints possibly assume another offensive possession with such little time left? Something big had to happen. Something that separated championship caliber teams from mere warriors of the frozen gridiron. Something unforgettable.
Dallas took over in attack mode and looked to seal the deal behind the pass. What looked like a perfect, 47-yard pass-and-catch connection from Kitna to big mouth WR Roy Williams on a crossing route that turned out to be a candidate for a Saints’ Play of the Year.
Saints FS Malcolm Jenkins single-handedly changed the outcome of the game as he stripped the ball out of Williams’ hands around the 11-yard line deep in Saints territory with 3:03 remaining. Malcolm ripped the ball out in a matter of microseconds and was trucking down the field before the biased commentators (Troy Aikman and Joe Buck) knew what had happened. Jenkins’ strip was undoubtedly the play of the game and harkened memories of last year’s meeting with Washington when WR Robert “Meach” Meachem stripped the Redskins’ DB and returned the ball for game-changing TD.
One thing I knew was this: the core group of the Saints had been here before. With injuries at the DB position almost a given in the NFL, the Saints have put together a formidable corps. They showed the willpower and physical ability to create a winning situation, and with a QB like Brees who’s mastered the art of clock management as well as several multi-dimensional hybrids of the two-minute drill, winning the game was more than a possibility.
The first play from scrimmage was an aggressive sort as Brees, as cool as an assassin, hit WR Marques Colston for a 22-yard gain. After a couple missed passes with TD written all over them intended for the aforementioned Henderson and TE Dave Thomas respectively, with the game on the line, on 3rd-and-10, Brees hit WR “Meach” in-stride for 55 yards deep into Cowboys territory. On the very next play, Brees fired a 12-yard strike to Lance “Mighty Mouse” Moore for a TD, regaining the Saints lead in the game 30-27. Brees finished the contest 23/39 for 352-yrds, 1-TD and 1-INT.
As time dwindled away, the Cowboys managed to drive the ball just past midfield, then stalled as the Saints D remained resolute. David Buehler missed a 59-yard, game-tying field goal with 31 seconds remaining on the clock. The Saints retained the ball, and smartly sat on it twice.
Now the Saints (8-3) are solely in second place as Atlanta (9-2) remains in first place in the NFC South after beating Green Bay at home, upping their record to a conference best, whilst Tampa (7-4) lost to future Saints opponent Baltimore Ravens this weekend. The Falcons do not look like the type of team that will go away anytime soon. If the Saints want to compete in the post-season, then in reality, every game has to be played as if it were a playoff game. NFC South supremacy could come down to game 16 at Atlanta on December 27. Get ready for a dramatic, nail-biting ride, ladies and gentleman, but know this: there is no quit in this Saints team. Good health and great play down the stretch providing, this under-the-radar type season might just pay off two days after Christmas.
