Cleveland Browns 30 @ New Orleans Saints 17: The View from Section 140

I'm not even going to waste my time with an elaborate introduction after the atrocity we were forced to witness yesterday. I only have one point to make before going straight into my bullet points. 

Don't tell me this team isn't talented, experienced or mature enough because I know that's not true. Consistency, or rather, a lack thereof is what's wrong with the 2010 Saints. Inconsistent quarterback, inconsistent offensive line, inconsistent coach. We've seen what they can do at their best, and we've seen what they can do at their worst. We just don't know what we're going to get until it's over. 

• The pre-game entertainment was a presentation of Saints alumni, each walking out onto the field with a Saintsation on their arm. Former players included Mike McKenzie, Michael Lewis, Danny Wuerffel and Rickey Jackson, among many others. 
• Lance Moore was in charge of leading the Who Dat chant after the coin flip. 
• When Payton was asked on Wednesday whether he would consider moving Malcolm Jenkins over to cornerback given how thin the team currently is at the position, he said no. But guess who was playing cornerback all afternoon. That's right, Malcolm Jenkins. Usama Young got the start at free safety. 
• Looks like the team is going to be easing Sharper into the lineup slowly. From what I could tell, Sharper would check in mostly on third down while Usama took the majority of snaps.  
• Trick plays were the name of the game for the Cleveland Browns yesterday afternoon. Even from the very beginning when they successfully threw a lateral on their first punt return and took it deep into Saints territory. The Browns also pulled off an incredibly successful fake punt and a pass for a first down by running back Peyton Hillis. The Saints were unprepared and Sean Payton was straight up out-coached. 
• Obviously this would have been a different game if Drew Brees doesn't throw four interceptions. You just can't do that in the NFL and expect to win the game. This certainly has got to be one of the worst performances we've seen from Drew thus far in his time with the Saints. He made several poor decisions, forced a lot of throws and got very little help from his offensive line along the way. Brees hasn't been his usual self, particularly these last few weeks, but this game took his slumping to another level. The Saints won't go very far without a more consistent Brees. 
• Am I allowed to hate Scott Fujita now? I know he's a good guy and played a key role in the Saints championship run last year but damn he was a bastard on the field yesterday. Players often have that extra chip on their shoulder when playing against their former teams but Fujita took it to another level. Eleven tackles, a sack and an interception. I think it's safe to assume that all those years playing for the Saints and practicing against these guys day in and day out payed dividends for him during the game. There was a smattering of booing when he sacked Brees early in the game. 
• The one positive we can take away from this debacle has got to be the play of Marques Colston. Marques came through with some key catches as he quietly put together an all-star performance with 10 catches for 112 yards and finally grabbed a long-awaited touchdown, his first of the season.
• The play of the offensive line was seriously disappointing. Chris Ivory rushed for a paltry 3.2 yards per carry and from where I was sitting, it looked like the line was mostly to blame. They were unable to open up many running lanes, leaving Ivory to constantly run into a wall of bodies. And when Ivory was finally able to break off a nice chunk of yardage, it gets called back courtesy of a Heath Evans holding penalty. Nice work. 
• While we're on the subject of penalties - there were waaaaaaaaay too many of them - and the offensive line, Carl Nicks was probably the worst offender. He took a 10-yard holding penalty then went for another 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play. 
• Good news: Garrett Hartley was a perfect 1/1 on his field goal attempts.
• Fans were booing the team at a couple of points during the game, including right before halftime. I was not one of them. 
• The halftime entertainment was a presentation for new Saints Hall of Fame inductee Joe Horn. His family was there to celebrate with him as his portrait was unveiled.
• As soon as Lance Moore, who was back to return the punt, detected the fake by the Browns, he started running full speed toward the punter. Like two freight trains on a crash course with each other, I watched as they barreled toward one another seemingly in slow motion and awaited the inevitably violent collision. Lance completely whiffed. 
• More good news: Coach Payton was a perfect 2/2 on his video replay challenges.
• I thought I saw Meachem stop running his route for a split second on the "overthrown" ball late in the game. I also thought I saw him slow up a bit on a deep target to him earlier in the game as well. Anyone else catch this?
• Ladell Betts did a great job catching screen passes out of the backfield. 
• Don't know how much of this they showed on the television broadcast but Courtney Roby ran into a sideline official during a punt return and seriously injured him. Medics were working hurriedly on the sideline. He was hooked up to an IV, put into a neck brace and carted off the field. Hopefully he's okay. 
• Sometimes I just get the feeling that the Saints aren't making necessary adjustments after it's obvious that their opponent has got them figured out. 
• Even more good news: This was only a loss to an AFC opponent. Not as bad as losing to an NFC or divisional opponent. 
• Outside of the stadium after the game there was a guy selling Texas Rangers World Series shirts out of a box.  

  

Never seen this guy before. 

 

Browns fan. 

 

Mike McKenzie during the alumni presentation. 

 

Pre-game.

 

Some of the old-timers. 

 

Lance Moore on a punt return, right before he fumbles. 

 

Junior tee retriever. 

 

Brees having a chat right after throwing a pick six. 

 

Joe Horn's family.

 

Halftime dancing. 

 

Halftime Joe Horn Hall of Fame portrait presentation. 

 

Joe Horn on the big screen. 

 

A close shot of Joe's portrait. 

 

Reggie was back on the sidelines. 

 

No Bob Breck giving the weather report. A refreshing change. 

 

Official being carted off. Looked serious. 

 

The Saintsations dancing amongst the players. 

 

Tradition. 

 

Payton giving some late-game instruction. 

 

Anthony Waters getting the crowd pumped on a key third down. 

 

Dome emptied out. 

 

Post-game frenzy. 

 

They picked a bad game to get married. 

  

Here is the roll call from yesterday's open threads. Thanks to everyone who particpated.