Saints Flex their Muscles in 48-7 Dismantling of the Eagles

Winners of eight games in a row, the New Orleans Saints (9-1) were facing one of the toughest challenge of their 2018 slate in a matchup with the wounded and desperate Philadelphia Eagles (4-6). Trying to keep their hopes of a bye week and potentially a number one seed in the NFC alive, the Saints had a lot to play for. For the Eagles, the stakes were even higher, as they were simply trying to stay in the NFC playoffs race.

Here is how the game unfolded:

1st HALF

Saints won the toss and deferred to the second half. After a three-and-out by the Eagles’ offense on their first possession, the Saints drove down the field but stalled just at the edge of the red zone, settling for a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

After a second consecutive three-and-out by Philadelphia, New Orleans would take over at their 14-yard line and drive 86 yards for a touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Austin Carr to give the Saints a 10-0 lead. It was the first touchdown reception of the season for Carr, in his second season out of Northwestern University.

On the Eagles’ third drive of the day, on the second play, Carson Wentz goes deep trying to hit Nelson Agholor but is intercepted by cornerback Marshon Lattimore, his first pick of the 2018 season.

The Saints would start their next drive at their own 16-yard line and this time drive 84 yards for a rushing touchdown by Mark Ingram, the third for the Saints’ running back in 2018. The Saints now led 17-0, early in the second quarter.

On their fourth possession of the half, the Eagles would finally put together a 75-yard drive, culminating into a Josh Adams 28-yard run into the end zone to cut the deficit to 17-7. On the drive, Carson Wentz would go 4-for-4 passing.

On the Saints’ next drive, Sean Payton would go back into his Taysom Hill bag of tricks, having the backup quarterback attempt a throw, which he missed, to Tre’Quan Smith. The Saints would then fail to gain a first down on the next two plays and punt for the first time of the day. Incredibly, this was only the Saints’ 10th three-and-out of the entire season.

The next Eagles’ drive would look promising, as Philadelphia found balance, running and passing their way into Saints’ territory. However, on a 3rd and 2 play, Sheldon Rankins would record his sixth sack of the season, forcing the Eagles to punt the ball back to the Saints.

Taking over at their 16-yard line, the Saints would yet again for all the way down the field for a score, this time a touchdown pass from Drew Brees to rookie receiver Tre’Quan Smith, restoring New Orleans’ 17-point advantage at 24-7, with 39 seconds left. On that drive, wide receiver Michael Thomas would record his second catch of the game, a 30-yarder that got Thomas over the 1000-yard mark for the season.

With 35 seconds left, Philadelphia does not move the ball, as the Saints sack Carson Wentz again, preserving New Orleans’ 17-point lead into halftime.

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2nd HALF

Receiving the ball to start the half, the Saints would get the ball at their 30-yard line (after an Eagles’ offside penalty on the kickoff) and drive 70 yards for a touchdown, a pass from Drew Brees to Michael Thomas. The reception was Thomas’ 8th touchdown of the season, giving New Orleans a 31-7 lead early in the third quarter.

On Philadelphia’s next possession, the Eagles move the ball to their own 41-yard line and go for it on 4th and 5. An incomplete pass from Carson Wentz gives the Saints the ball in Eagles’ territory.

Taking advantage of the short field, the Saints would get into the end zone again, this time closing the drive with a Mark Ingram run for a touchdown, his second of the game, giving the Saints a 38-7 lead.

The next Eagles’ possession would see Philadelphia move the ball once again up near their 40-yard line, but stall. This time, Philadelphia would punt the ball back to the Saints.

After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Alvin Kamara, the Saints would take over at their own 13-yard line and once again drive 87 yards for a touchdown, this one made on a 4th and 7 play, where Drew Brees found Alvin Kamara for a 38-yard pass right into the end zone, giving New Orleans a 45-7 lead.

Trailing by 38, the Eagles go to the passing game and for the third consecutive possession, stall around their 34-yard line. Their second 4th down try of the game is thwarted by Marshon Lattimore breaking up a pass intended for Alshon Jeffery, as Saints take over.

Ever smelling blood in the water, the Saints drive down the field, exclusively using running plays to drain the clock. The drive would result in a Wil Lutz’s 19-yard field goal, extending the Saints’ lead to 48-7.

On Philly’s next possession, the Eagles would try and go deep, but Chris Banjo would intercept Carson Wentz at New Orleans’ 17-yard line, giving the Saints the ball back.

New Orleans runs the ball three time and stalls, punting the ball back to the Eagles.

On its final possession of the game, the Eagles get into Saints territory but Carson Wentz is intercepted in the end zone by Chris Banjo. Banjo recording his second pick of the game and sealing the victory.

The Saints kneel on the ball and defeat the Eagles 48-7.

Who Dat Y’all, and as always: laissez les bons temps rouler!

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Here is a quarter by quarter timeline of the game:

1st Quarter

• Saints win the toss and defer to the second half
• Saints hold the Eagles to a three-and-out and a punt
• Saints take over at their 23-yard line after a penalty
• Mark Ingram breaks out a 38-yard run into Eagles territory
• Saints stall at the Eagles’ 20-yard line
• Wil Lutz makes a 38-yard field goal
• NO: 3 - PHI: 0
• Eagles take over at their own 45-yard line after a good return
• Eagles go three-and-out again and punt
• Saints take over at their 14-yard line
• Saints get into Eagles’ territory
• Brees finds Keith Kirkwood to get into the red zone
• Brees finds Austin Carr for a touchdown, his first of the year
• NO: 10 - PHI: 0
• Eagles take over at their 25-yard line
• On a deep pass, Marshon Lattimore intercepts Carson Wentz
• Saints take over at their 16-yard line
• Saints get into Eagles’ territory as the quarter ends

2nd Quarter

• Saints convert a third down and two at the edge of the red zone
• Mark Ingram runs into the end zone for a touchdown
• NO: 17 - PHI: 0
• Eagles take over at their 25-yard line
• Eagles get into Saints’ territory on a pass to Jordan Matthews
• Josh Adams rushes into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown
• NO: 17 - PHI: 7
• Saints start at their 25-yard line
• Saints go three-and-out for the first time in the game and punt
• Eagles take over at their 25-yard line
• Eagles get into Saints’ territory on a balance of runs and passes
• Sheldon Rankins sacks Carson Wentz for a big loss, forcing a punt
• Saints take over at their 16-yard line
• Brees finds Tre’Quan Smith for a 22-yard gain at the two-minute warning
• Brees finds Michael Thomas for 30 yards into Eagles territory
• On that catch, Michael Thomas went over the 1000-yard mark for the year
• Brees finds Tre’Quan Smith for a touchdown
• NO: 24 - PHI: 7
• Eagles start at their 7-yard line after a penalty on the return play
• Philadelphia does not move the ball as halftime hits with the Saints ahead by 17

3rd Quarter

• Saints had 321 yards in the half, most in any half this year
• Saints take over at their 30-yard line after an Eagles’ offside penalty
• Saints get into Eagles’ territory on a pass to Tre’Quan Smith
• This was Smith’s seventh reception of the game, a season-high
• Drew Brees finds Michael Thomas for a 23-yard touchdown pass
• NO: 31 - PHI: 7
• Eagles take over at their 25-yard line
• On 4th and 5, the Eagles go for it from their own 41 and fail to convert
• Saints take over at Philadelphia’s 41-yard line
• Brees finds Tre’Quan Smith deep inside the red zone
• On 3rd and goal, an Eagles penalty gives the Saints a new set of downs
• Mark Ingram runs in from the one-yard line for a touchdown
• NO: 38 - PHI: 7
• Eagles return the kickoff to their 24-yard line
• Eagles move the ball to their 41-yard line and punt
• Saints take over at their 13-yard line after a penalty on Alvin Kamara
• Brees finds Tre’Quan Smith for a 38-yard pass into Eagles’ territory as the quarter ends

4th Quarter

• On 4th and 7 from the Eagles’ 38-yard line, Brees finds Alvin Kamara for a touchdown
• NO: 45 - PHI: 7
• Eagles take over at their 25-yard line
• Eagles go for it on 4th and 1 again on their side of the field and fail to convert
• Saints take over at Philly’s 34-yard line
• Saints get into the red zone on a 17-yard run by Mark Ingram
• Saints stall at Philadelphia’s one-yard line
• Wil Lutz makes a 19-yard field goal
• NO: 48 - PHI: 7
• Eagles take over at their 25-yard line
• Saints defense plays with mostly backups now
• Carson Wentz is picked off by Chris Banjo at the Saints’ 17-yard line
• Saints use backups as Teddy Bridgewater enters the game
• New Orleans loses yards on three running downs and punts
• Eagles take over at their 30-yard line
• Eagles get into Saints’ territory
• Eagles get into the red zone on a pass interference call on Ken Crawley
• Carson Wentz is picked off by Chris Banjo for the second time
• Saints kneel on the ball
• Final Score: NO: 48 - PHI: 7
• Saints Win, Saints Win!