[jwplayer JXngBvAZ-ThvAeFxT]
Via @TalentStats:
In the Sean Payton era, Saints have not won a game when trailing by more than 14 points at the half.
In all of Saints history, when trailing by 17+ points at the half, they are 2-71.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 13, 2020
Well, that was an ugly win. But it joins one of the most memorable victories in New Orleans Saints history. The Saints have improved to 3-71 when trailing by 17-plus points after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers, who held a commanding 20-3 lead late in the first half (which Drew Brees narrowed with a leaping touchdown “run” over the goal line). Saints coach Sean Payton was understandably gassed after the game.
It’s just the second time the Saints have overcome that kind of deficit in the Brees-Payton era, and the third occurrence in team history. The last instance was an iconic win in their Super Bowl XLIV campaign, when the Saints rallied to defeat the Miami Dolphins on the road after going down 24-3 (final score: Saints 46, Dolphins 34). That’s a comparison Saints radio announcer Zach Strief, a veteran of that same 2009 Saints team, pointed to often during the game broadcast.
If nothing else, that illustrates how rare these sort of comebacks are.
This is also the second week in a row in which the Saints rallied back after going down multiple scores. Last week, the Detroit Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead that they couldn’t hold onto. This time around, the Chargers tried to push the envelope, but the Saints were up to the task.
That isn’t the kind of good fortune they should count on week in and week out. Serious adjustments must be made during the bye week, both on offense (where yards have been hard to come by) and on defense (where too many yards have been given up uncontested).
Ugly as it is, a win is a win. The Saints are 3-2 and in the thick of the NFC South title race. Let’s see what they look like on the other side.
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