Week
13 Falcons vs Saints.
What
Could have Been.
Even the oddsmakers knew going in. The outcome of this game could not be predicted with mere statistics. They set the line low at -3.5 for a 10-1 home team hosting a 5-6 division rival - with what Deon Sanders described in the pre-game as “The worst defense in NFL history.” That seemed overstated.
Like a rematch between Sea Biscuit and Man-O-War, there were intangibles here that could not be measured; Heart and Pride. The heart, mainly that of Drew Brees. A quarterback more accurate than an archer, with the game presence of a president and the heart of a teenager. He had lost the game for his team the week before with a forced pass that was intercepted. We all knew that would not happen again. The pride, an Atlanta team at home - that in their own words, should have won the last match up easily.
As the opening shot was fired, Matt Ryan threw a short pass to the right that could have and should have been taken to the house by Saints CB Jenkins for 6 Saints points – if tight end Gonzales had not wrestled the ball back for an eight yard gain.
The Saints rush defense then allowed Michael Turner to run on them at will. Before you knew it, the Falcons were up 14 nothing and Deon Sanders looked more like Nostradamus than MC Hammer. Anyone hoping for a close fought cliffhanger - was surfing the channel guide for alternative programming. Then the saints found a spark and drove down for a running touchdown.
At 17 – 7 there was hope.
Near the end of the first half - the Saints caught fire again and drove inside the Atlanta 10 yard line. Touchdown Saints! The pass was called back by a penalty. With 35 seconds left, Brees ran two plays down to the 2 yard line. As he rallied the team to line with 7 seconds left – you watched the clock tick down to zero.
Falcon
17 Saints 7.
Not
17-14
Not
17-10
17-7
As the second half began - suddenly, the worst defense in NFL history was shutting down the 10-1 Falcons offense. Three and out. Three and out. The New Orleans offense was on fire again as well. Then it happened. Brees about to score - forces a throw and is picked off. The Saints defense holds and there is still hope. He’s only human. Then it happens again. Brees throws a pick, Saints defense holds. Time and time again - they drove the ball down the field only to have their field general hand the ball back to the enemy. The number one scoring offense in the NFL - couldn’t score.
With about 4 minutes left in the game, down by 10, the Saints have one last chance. They mount a drive that reminded us all of all those great last minute comebacks. Then, to our dismay, it happens again. Brees, under pressure, lobs a ball over the heads of the oncoming pass rushers and completes a pass to an Atlanta defensive linemen. Falcons ball on the Saints 30. Game over.
But like any great Odyssey - it wasn’t. With just a couple minutes left in the game - the saints defense holds up the Falcons running back and strips the ball. Saints run it in for a touchdown. We can’t believe it happened, but it did, and the Cinderella story isn’t over. The touchdown is called back, but the Saints have the ball and one more, one more last chance. And then, it happened again. His childlike enthusiasm that we love so much, had caused him to force passes - instead of taking what the defense gave him and winning a game they should have won.
Final Score - Falcons 23. Saints 13.
The Falcons claimed the Saints didn’t beat them in the last game – they beat themselves. Now the Saints can claim the same.
Something ended last night. It was not the career of Drew Brees. And it was not the end of his record for consecutive TD passes that left us empty. It was the chance to witness something amazing that we lost. To quote Sea Biscuit; "Sometimes the little guy just needs a second chance" They got one, and it would have been fun to see the the underdog beat the odds. If there is a lesson to be learned in all of this – it falls somewhere between the power of the human spirit and the value of self control.
Sometimes we can want something so bad, we lose our patience in pursuit of it. Drew Brees, like Moses, will not see the promised land this year. But, at the end of the day, all we can do if is be grateful for the ride.
-Rick Jansen
