Tag: History

Chargers beat the Saints for first time since Drew Brees was their QB

This hasn’t happened in 20 years. The last time the Chargers beat the Saints, Drew Brees was their quarterback:

This hasn’t happened in 20 years. The last time the Los Angeles Chargers beat the New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees was their quarterback. But that feat repeated itself on Sunday when Justin Herbert quarterbacked the Chargers to a 26-8 win. The Saints fell to 2-6 on the season after benching rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler in hopes that Jake Haener could provide a spark. New Orleans still lost 26-8.

So what happened last time on Nov. 6, 2004? Brees outdueled Aaron Brooks in a 43-17 romp, throwing four touchdown passes (three of them to star tight end Antonio Gates). Deuce McAllister led the Saints with 63 rushing yards and kept the team in the game with an early touchdown run of his own, but he couldn’t do it all himself.

Of course things took a surprising turn in the years to follow. Brees suffered  a career-threatening shoulder injury and was let go into free agency, where the Saints signed him.  A few years after that McAllister led the team out of the tunnel in their bid to win Super Bowl XLIV. The rest is history. The Saints won four in a row against the Chargers including an overtime victory in 2020.

And it’s all behind us, now. What matters most is that the Saints can’t get out of their own way and end this losing streak. They don’t have a quarterback like Brees on the roster anymore, though the Chargers have something special in Justin Herbert. If New Orleans can’t get back in the win column soon, these memories will be all they have.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s family has New Orleans roots

Marquez Valdes-Scantling may be new to the Saints, but he isn’t new to New Orleans. His family has Louisiana roots:

Marquez Valdes-Scantling may be new to the New Orleans Saints, but he’s far from unfamiliar with the area. He has family roots within the city. His dad’s side of the family is from New Orleans.

Valdes-Scantling said he visited New Orleans quite a few times during his childhood and is “very familiar with the area, the food and the atmosphere.”

He’s a Florida native and he’s happy to return a familiar climate. Valdes-Scantling spent his playing days in Buffalo, Wisconsin and Kansas City. He called the change in weather “good for him.”

His journey on the field to New Orleans feels like it took forever. The team has pursued Valdes-Scantling in 2022. Ultimately, he chose to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s a hard decision to argue with and resulted in two Super Bowl rings.

The receiver revealed how close he was to joining the Saints at that time: “I was super close. I was actually on my visit to the Chiefs. I was on my way out the door to come down here, to get on the plane. The Chiefs wouldn’t let me leave and that’s the history of it.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Saints star playmaker still remains in NFL concussion protocol

New Orleans Saints star playmaker Chris Olave still remains in the NFL concussion protocol. This is his third brain injury in three years as a pro:

The New Orleans Saints bought a couple extra days of rest after their Thursday night game with the Denver Broncos, but Chris Olave is still dealing with symptoms from a concussion he suffered earlier against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Monday that Olave is still progressing through the NFL’s concussion protocol ahead of this week’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Allen explained that league rules prohibit him from sharing too many details: “He’s in the protocol, he’s progressing in the protocol, we’re going to take those steps as defined by the league, and then we’ll go from there.”

This isn’t the first time Olave has suffered a concussion. As a rookie in 2022, he exited Week 9’s game midway through and wasn’t cleared to play a week later. Then in 2023 he was ruled out in Week 12, but he did play in their game the next week. Even with extra rest after a Thursday night game, he’s not a lock to return this Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

These are serious brain injuries, and everyone experiences different rates of recovery. Sometimes a player can clear protocol in a week. Sometimes it takes a month for symptoms to recede. Taysom Hill missed two games and 24 days recovering from a concussion back in 2021.

The team will get back on the practice field on Wednesday. When doctors are confident Olave can compete on the field without endangering his health, he’ll be out there.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Bo Nix made Broncos history on ‘Thursday Night Football’

Bo Nix has tied John Elway and Drew Lock for the most wins by a Broncos rookie QB, and he now holds the team’s rookie completion record.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a historic night against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football in Week 7.

After going 16-of-26 passing for 164 yards in a 33-10 win, Nix has now set the record for most completions (137) by a rookie quarterback in franchise history, breaking a record that was previously held by John Elway (123).

Nix’s four wins this season are also tied with Elway and Drew Lock for the most victories by a rookie QB in franchise history.

“It means a lot,” Nix said after the game. “You’re talking about one of the greats to ever do it at our organization. It means a lot. You’re in great company. I am not finished; we have a lot in front of us, so I definitely don’t want to stop there. We are going to continue to get better as a team. I am going to continue to grow and learn as a player. Hopefully, we will continue to have wins like this.”

Nix also rushed for 75 yards against the Saints, the sixth-most by a quarterback in a single game in Broncos history. Through seven games, Nix has 255 yards on the ground, the second-most by a rookie quarterback in franchise history and seventh-most overall by a QB in Denver’s history.

Nix has plenty of room for improvement, but there’s reason for optimism in Broncos Country after the rookie QB’s first seven games in the NFL.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Saints nearly set a franchise record in worst of ways in Week 6 loss

The New Orleans Saints nearly set a franchise record in Sunday’s 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It happened in the worst of ways:

The New Orleans Saints nearly set a franchise record in Sunday’s 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it wasn’t a good one, either. The Saints came up just shy of the most yards they’ve ever allowed in a single game, with a total of 594 yards gifted to quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs.

That’s the second-most in franchise history. The previous record was 605 yards of total offense surrendered to Daunte Culpepper and the Minnesota Vikings back in 2004.

Mayfield was allowed to have an absolute day on the stat sheet outside of some picks thrown, completing 24 of his 36 passing attempts for 325 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

The 51 points the Saints gave up to the Bucs was by far the most they’ve allowed an opponent to score all season long, with the second-most coming nowhere close as they allowed both the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs 26 points each. Sunday’s amount is a mere one point away from doubling that.

The offense, however, showed more signs of life than it has in a while with backup quarterback Spencer Rattler at the helm. The 27 points they put up were the most the Saints have scored since they totaled 44 points in the win over the Dallas Cowboys back on Sept. 15.

Playing complementary football will undoubtedly be a large emphasis as the Saints look to snap a now-abysmal four-game losing streak.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Mike Evans says he’s grown past feud after ejection, suspensions, and restaurant ban

Mike Evans has been ejected once, suspended twice, and banned from a New Orleans restaurant for starting fights with Marshon Lattimore. He says he’s more mature now:

Mike Evans says he’s learned his lesson from starting fights with Marshon Lattimore. Past feuds with the New Orleans Saints cornerback have cost the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver a lot — more than $100,000 in fines, an ejection, two different single-game suspensions, and a lifetime ban from a New Orleans barbecue restaurant.

Still, it remains a spirited rivalry, and Evans said he’s taking the high road. That doesn’t mean he isn’t looking forward to scrapping with Lattimore as long as their teams remain division opponents.

“Long as, you know, it’s within the play,” Evans told the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud. “I’ve done a bad job in the past of making it go over the play when I shouldn’t have. But I’m more mature now and our team is focused on playing winning ball, and you can’t play winning ball when you get kicked out and things like that.”

Evans added that while you want to bring fire and energy and passion into the game, you can’t act irrationally because of it and hurt your team. That’s a balance he’s struggled to maintain in the past, and it doesn’t help that Lattimore consistently shuts him down. Evans has had a nice career. He’s averaged 4.9 catches and 75.2 yards per game over the years. But in a dozen previous games with Lattimore he’s had 5 or more receptions just once while beating that yardage average only twice.

“But I definitely want to have that fire and be physical and a little chirping never hurts. But you definitely have got to be smart,” Evans added.

There’s a lot to be said for letting your hands doing the talking, but Evans would be better served catching passes than throwing punches.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Referee Clete Blakeman assigned to Week 6 Saints-Bucs game

The New Orleans Saints will kick off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Clete Blakeman officiating. The Saints are 3-0 against the Bucs with him at referee:

The New Orleans Saints will play their next game of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under referee Clete Blakeman. It’s the first time this season for both teams in the matchup that he’ll be the one officiating, though he’s worked as a head referee since 2010. The Buccaneers are 7-7 in games with Blakeman as the referee, while the Saints are 7-6. Ironically he’s officiated three past matchups between these two teams, and New Orleans is 3-0 in them.

So far this season, 51.4% of the penalties he has called have been on the home team, and that team has won just 25% of the time. Blakeman averages 18.5 penalties per game for 176 yards.

For comparison’s purpose, the league average is just over 13 penalties per game for roughly 107 yards.

The last time Tampa Bay played with him making the calls was on Jan. 7, 2024 when the Bucs won a low-scoring affair over the Carolina Panthers, 9-0. Three penalties were called on the Bucs for 15 yards, while three penalties were called on the Panthers for 20 yards.

The Saints saw Blakeman last much longer ago than the Bucs did, with him serving as a part of the officiating crew during the contest against the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 18, 2022. Six penalties were called on the Saints for 46 yards, while three flags were thrown on the Falcons for 30 yards. New Orleans won that close game, 21-18.

How things shake out this time under Blakeman will be interesting to see.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

3-game losing streaks have a direct tie to Saints playoff history

The New Orleans Saints have only had a three-game losing streak and made the playoffs in the same season once before. Will 2024 be a repeat?

After being dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs, the New Orleans Saints have lost three games in a row.

We’ve taken a look at how the Saints starting 2-3 is a bad omen for the season. Here goes an even worse trend. Over the last 15 seasons, the Saints have either had a three-game losing streak or made the playoffs but never both.

That last part may feel obvious. Teams who go into a three-game losing skid typically don’t make the playoffs. However, the interesting part is the fact New Orleans has had a three-game losing streak every time they missed the playoffs.

The Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009. New Orleans started 13-0 before losing the last 3 games. Ironically, that was the last time the Saints had a three-game losing streak and made the playoffs in the same season.

Since then the Saints made the playoffs 7 times: 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. New Orleans has gone through a three game losing streak at some point during every other season.

There’s still a chance for New Orleans to break this trend, There’s 12 games left in the season, but history says the New Orleans Saints will either go on a three game losing streak or be a playoff team. They’ve already done the former.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

T.J. Watt becomes the second fastest player to reach 100 career sacks

T.J Watt has made history in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys. He became the second-fastest player to reach 100 career sacks.

With the Steelers versus Cowboys finally underway, after severe weather delayed the contest by over an hour, the stage was set and the game was tied 3-3, when on the last play of the first quarter, T.J. Watt made history.

As Dak Prescott dropped back, Watt teamed up with Nick Herbig for a crucial sack and forced fumble, giving Pittsburgh the momentum they needed. This moment, more than any, solidified Watt’s place among the all-time greats in NFL history.  Watt had done the unthinkable—he became the second-fastest player to achieve 100 career sacks.

Throughout his dominant career in Pittsburgh, Watt has been snubbed for two Defensive Player of the Year awards, but no one can take this milestone away from him.

The Steelers will have to wait until after the game to celebrate, however, as Prescott continues to attack the Pittsburgh defense with help from TE Jake Ferguson and WR CeeDee Lamb.

From Steelers fans around the world—congratulations to T.J. Watt on becoming the second-fastest player to reach 100 career sacks, and here’s to many more!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Behind the numbers: Steelers versus Cowboys rivalry 

The historic rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys hits prime time this Sunday night. We at Steelers Wire dive into the numbers and stats that make this rivalry so special.

When fans think of some of the greatest rivalries in football, many are quick to point to divisional matchups, such as those in the AFC North, NFC North, and AFC West—and they would be correct. However, two opponents from completely opposite conferences, separated by over 1.2 thousand miles, share a rivalry so intense and competitive that it has withstood the test of time. 

A rivalry that has shaped careers, created playmakers, and defined legacies, walks a fine line between hatred and respect for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. Together, the Steelers and Cowboys have claimed a combined 11 Super Bowl titles and faced off in three of those games (Super Bowl X, XIII, XXX). 

Though Dallas won only one of these Super Bowls (XXX), they hold the edge in their overall head-to-head matchups, with 17 wins to Pittsburgh’s 16. This could all change if the Steelers can tie the rivalry after their Sunday Night Football game against Dallas in Week 5, on October 6th, at 8:20 PM EST. 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]