This was not a very good game for the New Orleans Saints.
There were still plenty of “Ups” and “Downs” along the way, though. Here are a few that stood out:
Down: Drew Brees’s injury
Make no mistake about it, the loss of Drew Brees for any significant period of time hurts this team’s chances of trying to win a Lombardi.
There has yet to be any significant news regarding the status or severity of Drew’s injured thumb, but if you’re holding out hope that Drew won’t miss any games, it’s unfortunately more likely a matter of “how many” rather than “if.”
Stay tuned for news as it develops.
Down: Officiating
For the third game in a row, the New Orleans Saints were the victim or a blown call by the NFL referees. If this was any other team and any other game, it might just be a footnote in a bigger story. But because the referees in games played by the New Orleans Saints will be under heavier scrutiny, it just makes the blatant mistakes that much more egregious.
And the TV broadcast is talking about the "killer mistake" that hurt the Saints. "It should've been a touchdown by the Saints ... the Saints are on the short end of a call yet again. Going back to the Championship Game that's 3 in a row."
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) September 15, 2019
In case you live under a rock, the referees blew a fumble dead as an incomplete pass that was run back for a touchdown by Cam Jordan. After the Saints challenged, the ruling on the field was over turned to a fumble, but because the officials blew the play as dead, the return was irrelevant and the six points was taken off the board.
Up: Cam Jordan
The defensive line didn’t play great this game, but it was generally an improved performance from last week. It was Cam Jordan, though, who continues to be a one-man wrecking crew for the New Orleans Saints. Jordan finished the game with five tackles and a sack, plus the aforementioned fumble recovery (which should have gone for a defensive score).
If or when the rest of the defensive line can step up around him, Jordan could be in for another monster year and was the lone bright spot in a depressing game.
Down: Umm..... literally everything else.
Jared Cook dropped catch-able passes. Alvin Kamara couldn’t find running room. Michael Thomas had an uncharacteristic drop on a pass thrown behind him but that he routinely brings in. Keith Kirkwood was injured pregame. Tre’Quan Smith was injured during the game. Andrus Peat was injured during the game. The Saints secondary was torched in the second half. Cooper Kupp went on a BeastMode-esque run, breaking tackle after tackle in the Saints defense...
Let’s put it this way: there is a lot the Saints can look at on film to improve on.