Tag: Marshon Lattimore

Saints’ Marshon Lattimore had to be held back from an assistant coach after TD drive

Tensions are running high in New Orleans.

This Vikings-Saints NFC wild-card game has been an emotional one, with both teams fighting for their playoff lives in a very loud Superdome.

Tensions hit a high mark on the Saints sideline following a third-quarter TD drive by the Kirk Cousins and the Vikings that gave them a 20-10 lead. New Orleans DB Marshon Lattimore, who got burned on a big play on the drive, had to be separated from his defensive backs coach, Aaron Glenn.

This is playoff football and this stuff is going to happen. There is a lot on the line and the players don’t want to lose, obviously.

Erin Andrews had the details on the Fox broadcast:

Will the Saints be able to shake these frustrations off and get back in this game?

We’ll find out here in the fourth quarter.

New Orleans Saints 2010s All-Decade Team: Defense

The 2010 New Orleans Saints’ All-Decade Team is headlined by Cameron Jordan, Will Smith, Jonathan Vilma, Demario Davis, and Jabari Greer.

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Let’s get this out of the way early: the New Orleans Saints defense has been the team’s weaker unit over the last decade. They turned in some of the worst defensive performances in NFL history during the 2012, 2014, and 2015 seasons, forcing Drew Brees and the Saints offense to put the world on their shoulders. It led to a series of disappointing 7-9 seasons.

But it wasn’t all bad, and the Saints defense has arguably outplayed the offense during the last few years. Cameron Jordan is one of the best players in team history, and seems to only be improving with age. Other recent additions like Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore are lso deserving of praise. So we’ve considered everything from on-field production to leadership value and longevity of careers in putting this list together.

Here is the defense of the Saints’ All-Decade Team:

Defensive tackles

First team: David Onyemata, Sheldon Rankins

Onyemata has turned into a very reliable starter for the Saints, appearing in 63 games from 2016 to 2019 while bagging 9.5 sacks and 26 quarterback hits (sixth-most among all Saints defenders of the 2010’s), and 11 tackles for loss. However, Rankins has been the real star along the interior line, despite his limited appearances (51 games from 2016 to 2019, due to several injuries). Rankins racked up 16 sacks and 35 quarterback hits (fourth-most in the 2010’s). Rankins recorded 22 tackles for loss, fifth-most of this era.

Second team: Tyeler Davison, Brodrick Bunkley

Davison may have not put up gaudy box score numbers during his four-year stint with the Saints, but he rarely missed a start. He logged 61 game appearances from 2015 to 2018 and was rock-solid in run defense. Before he came to the scene, though, Bunkley set a high bar for nose tackle play in New Orleans from 2012 to 2014 (playing 38 games). The defenses Bunkley played on were vulnerable against the pass, but he did his part to hold up against the run.

Defensive ends

First team: Cameron Jordan, Will Smith

Jordan is one of the greatest Saints players of all time, and he’s still in his prime. He’s only missed one game from 2011 to 2019, appearing in 144 matchups, while leading New Orleans in sacks (87) and hits (168), and tackles for loss (113). He’s also bagged 10 forced fumbles and deflected 47 passes at the line of scrimmage. That said, Smith deserves to be remembered well for what he accomplished with the Saints. Smith spent the bulk of his career playing in the 2000’s, but the three years he turned in during the 2010’s are noteworthy. He ranks third in sacks (18) and hits (39) among all Saints players in this era.

Second team: Junior Galette, Alex Okafor

Galette would rank higher if he hadn’t lost his mind and gotten arrested following a series of violent off-field incidents, cutting his Saints career short and devastating the locker room on his way out. His problematic behavior aside, Galette does deserve some props for ranking second-best in sacks (31.5), hits (62), and tackles for loss (34) in the 2010’s. Okafor only played two years with the Saints, but he was a reliable presence opposite Jordan who did a lot to elevate the defense in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Linebacker

First team: Demario Davis, Jonathan Vilma

Davis has an argument to make with Brees as the greatest free agent signing in team history. The ex-Jets and -Browns linebacker has revolutionized the position after years of sub-par play, giving fans something to cheer about in run defense, pass coverage, and designed blitzes to get after the quarterback. On top of that, he’s a vocal leader off the field who shows everyone in the locker room how to be a pro. Another ex-Jets linebacker, Vilma was iconic in the Saints’ Super Bowl run, but he continued to play well from 2010 to 2012, and hung up his cleats after creating many great memories for Saints fans.

Second team: Craig Robertson, David Hawthorne

Robertson deserves some real props for sticking around for so long and wearing so many different hats for the Saints — he’s logged 62 game appearances from 2016 to 2019, playing outside linebacker and rising to the rank of captain on special teams. His presence gives the Saints depth to rival any team in the league. Additionally, Hawthorne was the best linebacker on some rough units from 2012 to 2015, appearing in 50 games and turning in several memorable splash plays.

Cornerback

First team: Marshon Lattimore, Jabari Greer

When he’s been at his best, Lattimore has played at a level just a handful of cornerbacks can rival around the league. And he’s so young that it’s realistic to expect him to grow and develop into a real force as his career continues. His 8 interceptions and 44 pass breakups are rank third-best in this era, but he’s also shown a knack for creating fumbles (5) and recovering them (4). Back in the early 2010’s, however, Greer was one of the most-productive defenders on the team with 7 interceptions (fifth-most) and set the high-water mark for everyone with 55 pass deflections from 2010 to 2013.

Second team: Patrick Robinson, Keenan Lewis

It took some time for Robinson to carve out a role for himself with the Saints, and it required a three-year sojourn around the league with stops in different teams for him to develop into a solid slot defender. But he’s always had ball skills, as seen in his 9 interceptions and 48 pass breakups. Robinson is a depth player these days, but he’s put up plenty of hides on the wall for the Saints to point to. Lewis was also a nice player for the Saints from 2013 to 2015, when he appeared in 38 games and gave Saints fans a home-town hero to root for. We’d be remiss to not mention Delvin Breaux, another New Orleans legend who played well for the Saints before injuries cut his NFL career short.

Safety

First team: Marcus Williams, Roman Harper

Some fans won’t want to hear this, but Williams intercepted more passes (10) than any other Saints player from 2010 to 2019, and he’s only played 46 games from 2017 to 2019. His tackling may be suspect at times but Williams is gifted with rare ball skills. Contrast that with Harper, who seldom got his hands on the ball, but provided solid tackling and great leadership in his 9-year Saints career (we’re all going to pretend his stint with the Carolina Panthers didn’t happen).

Second team: Kenny Vaccaro, Vonn Bell

Vaccaro didn’t turn into the long-term answer at safety the Saints envisioned, but he was still an effective player. He created plenty of splash plays in his 68 appearances from 2013 to 2017, collecting 8 interceptions, 30 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles (with 3 recoveries), 7.5 sacks, 19 hits, and 23 tackles for loss (with 283 solo tackles in his career). It’s a shame things didn’t work out, but we’ll always have his game-winning pass breakup in his first career start against the Atlanta Falcons. Bell has similarly taken a long time to find his footing, having intercepted his first pass in his fourth year with the team, but his other stats speak for themselves. In 61 games, Bell has made 240 solo tackles and forced 7 fumbles and recovered 7 more.

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Saints snap-count analysis vs. Panthers: Rest played factor in distribution

The New Orleans Saints rested starters late in their blowout win over the Carolina Panthers, allowing backups like Janoris Jenkins to shine.

The New Orleans went into Week 17 against the Carolina Panthers with offense playing at full strength, while the defense remained banged up, especially in the secondary. That was still too much for a leaderless Panthers team to handle, and key starters were pulled by the Saints in the fourth quarter, which significantly skews their snap counts. The upside to that is the second- and third-string players got extended experience, which will only help them develop further.

Offensive backfield

  • QB Drew Brees, 56 (81%)
  • RB Latavius Murray, 37 (54%)
  • QB Taysom Hill, 34 (49%)
  • RB Alvin Kamara, 28 (41%)
  • FB Ricky Ortiz, 17 (25%)
  • QB Teddy Bridgewater, 11 (16%)
  • RB Dwayne Washington, 5 (7%)

Kamara’s share was down from Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans, when he saw over 63% of the offensive snaps. However, the running back was able to produce two touchdowns against the Panthers, and his reduced workload was likely caused by head coach Sean Payton wanting to give his starter rest ahead of the the playoffs.

Skill positions

  • TE Josh Hill, 55 (80%)
  • WR Michael Thomas, 46 (67%)
  • WR Tre’Quan Smith, 43 (62%)
  • TE Jared Cook, 26 (38%)
  • WR Ted Ginn Jr., 18 (26%)
  • WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, 12 (17%)
  • WR Deonte Harris, 8 (12%)

Once again Hill outpaced Cook for their share of snaps played, which is not unusual considering he plays a larger part in the run-blocking game than Cook. Furthermore, Hill’s presence allows Cook more opportunities in the passing game. Thomas’ snap count share was below-average this week, as was his production. There is not much to be worried about on that front considering he was rested in the fourth quarter.

Offensive line

  • T Ryan Ramczyk, 69 (100%)
  • G Larry Warford, 69 (100%)
  • C Erik McCoy, 69 (100%)
  • T Terron Armstead, 54 (78%)
  • G Andrus Peat, 49 (71%)
  • C Nick Easton, 20 (29%)
  • C Will Clapp, 18 (26%)

The offensive line returned to near full-health against Carolina with the return of Peat and Warford, though Peat was in and out of the game depending on various situations. it seems the Saints wanted to ease him back into action after he broke his arm. While Easton had done an admirable job in standing in during that time, the offensive line looked much better at protecting Brees, while also opening up the run game. A strong push into the playoffs will be much more attainable, with the entire unit near full health.

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Eli Apple carted off vs. Titans, questionable to return

New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple went down with an ankle injury against the Tennessee Titans, opening the door for Janoris Jenkins.

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The New Orleans Saints lost cornerback Eli Apple to an ankle injury during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans, when the team’s number-two cornerback got caught up in a crowd of players pursuing Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown. Apple initially tried to limp off the field before requiring assistance from Saints medical staff, and he was then carted into the locker room after being evaluated on the sidelines.

In his place, the Saints called up slot cornerback P.J. Williams. Williams has been the team’s go-to option when down a starting cornerback this year, as seen during Marshon Lattimore’s absence with a hamstring injury. The Saints claimed ex-New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins on waivers this week and he is dressed for this game, but they went with Williams over him when Apple exited the game.

We’ll see how they approach personnel groupings when forced to go into a nickel alignment; Jenkins has played slot corner before, and could fill in there while the nominal backup (C.J. Gardner-Johnson) is playing strong safety in place of injured starter Vonn Bell. It’s not great to see the Saints putting together such a patchwork secondary, and that’s reflected in the lopsided 14-3 score in the second quarter. Stay tuned to see whether Apple returns to the game or if Jenkins gets moved to a different spot.

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NFL Week 16: 6 key matchups to watch in Saints vs. Titans

A.J. Brown, Derrick Henry, and the Tennessee Titans are preparing to host Marshon Lattimore, Demario Davis, and the New Orleans Saints.

The New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans are days away from their Week 16 kickoff, and it’s an important game for all involved. Some players — like Saints running back Alvin Kamara — need the opportunity to reassert themselves as NFL stars. Others, such as Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, could really benefit from a strong day to cement their status as more than a flash in the pan.

And that’s just the individual performances to worry about. This game is rife with playoff implications for both the NFC and the AFC. If the Saints lose, it’ll be almost impossible for them to earn a top-two seed and the bye week that comes with it. If the Titans lose, they run the risk of getting eliminated from the playoffs altogether. Both sides are going to take this one very seriously, and it’ll come down to who can win more individual matchups across the field on Sunday. Here are six battles worth watching.

Titans CB A.J. Brown vs. Saints CB Marshon Lattimore

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Brown has been one of the NFL’s breakout stars this season, averaging over 19 yards per catch and consistently getting behind defenses for big gains. Lattimore has bounced back from some early-season struggles and a mid-season hamstring injury to perform like one of the best cover corners in the league. This all sets up for a collision between two of the NFL’s brightest young stars.

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What does new Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins bring to the table?

The New Orleans Saints may have brought in a serious upgrade to their defense by claiming ex-New York Giants CB Janoris Jenkins on waivers.

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The New Orleans Saints were able to make a bold acquisition late in the season this week by claiming Janoris Jenkins on waivers from the New York Giants. Jenkins was one of Big Blue’s most-experienced defenders and a cornerstone of the defensive secondary, but a recent ankle injury and social media mess made him available. And the Saints didn’t hesitate to take a shot on him.

But what are they getting? Jenkins has a reputation as a gambler in coverage, often betting on his athleticism and aggression to win at the catch point. That strategy has worked in 2019 — he’s already tied his career-high for interceptions (4, with 14 total passes defensed), which is more than any every other Saints cornerback combined (3). But Jenkins has also drawn plenty of penalties (6 accepted), which trails only the player he’s likely competing with for a starting job in New Orleans (Eli Apple, who has been flagged eight times). Unlike Apple, Jenkins creates as many positive plays as negative moments he’s at fault for.

And that’s an upgrade for the Saints. The stats don’t tell the whole story with him, so we ran back the tape on his 2019 games to see if it holds true. And after doing that, we’re left asking: what were the Giants thinking waiving him, and how did he slip all the way down to New Orleans?

Jenkins is a smart player who consistently gets his head around on downfield routes. Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen preaches the need to communicate, saying that a loud defense is a confident defense, and Jenkins embodies that philosophy. He’s constantly checking with the depth of his safeties behind him and waving teammates into position when they’re moving slowly. He shows a good awareness of route combinations and often makes the right decision to pass his man off and pick up a receiver as they move into his zone.

And when Jenkins is in position to compete for a pass, he often gets a hand on the ball. It’s a credit to his opponents when they’re able to beat him in those contested-catch situations. When he’s able to get both hands on the football, he rarely drops it.

He isn’t a perfect player. Jenkins is 30, and doesn’t enjoy the same athleticism he possessed when he was younger. There are moments where opponents are able to get a step on him and he can’t recover — it happened twice early in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Mike Evans put space between them on an 18-yard crossing route during the opening drive. That first Tampa Bay possession ended with a 21-yard touchdown pass when Evans flashed past Jenkins when he was in off-coverage over the slot.

And there are frustrating plays when Jenkins commits a foul for no reason. In Week 13 against the Green Bay Packers, Jenkins drew a defensive holding penalty on third down when the pass fell incomplete to another part of the field. He wasn’t beaten on the quick out route, but grabbed a fistful of his receiver’s jersey too far downfield, wiping out what would have been a good play for the Giants defense.

So it’s fair for fans to mute their expectations of this addition. Jenkins is a talented player whose best football is behind him, but he can still help this team pursue a Super Bowl win. Even if he still draws penalties at too-high a rate and slips up in coverage sometimes, Jenkins’ penchant for heads-up plays and his expansive NFL experience is worth giving him a shot. Saints coach Sean Payton described the addition as a low-risk, high-reward move, and the game tape supports that take. We’ll see soon whether things go as planned for Jenkins and the Saints.

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Six former Ohio State players selected to 2020 NFL Pro Bowl

Ohio State football will be well represented in the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl. Six former Buckeyes are on the rosters for the game in Orlando.

The Ohio State football program has always been well-represented at the highest level. With the NFL releasing the 2020 Pro Bowl rosters, it was clear the Buckeyes would again hold numerous roster spots.

And sure enough, six Buckeyes were named to the 2020 Pro Bowl which will take place in Orlando, Florida. All of them outside of Ezekiel Elliott were named starters for their respective conferences as well.

The six selected were San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward, New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore and wide receiver Michael Thomas.

All six have been highly impressive this season with three of the six having already helped their team clinch a playoff spot.

As for the Bosa brothers, this will be Joey’s second nomination while rookie Nick will obviously have his first. To round out the defense, this will be Lattimore’s second and Heyward’s third appearance.

Zeke, a perennial Pro Bowler, will also be making his third appearance in four seasons. Lastly, we have Michael Thomas, who has bigger plans than just a Pro Bowl.

Thomas is on track to set the league’s single-season receptions record, just 11 shy of Marvin Harrison’s record. He already broke the Saints’ single-season receptions record with 12 against the Colts on Monday Night Football.

The Pro Bowl will take place on Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. EST.

4 game balls from the Saints’ record-setting Monday night beatdown

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts during Monday Night Football, with Drew Brees breaking a few records along the way.

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The New Orleans Saints made easy work of the Indianapolis Colts during their prime-time matchup on Monday Night Football in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. While the 34-7 scoreline was impressive, the records set were even more so. However, the results could not have been accomplished if not for the efforts of some key players.

Here are the game balls we have given to some players for their extraordinary performances in Monday night’s game.

Marshon Lattimore

The Pro Bowler was tasked with shadowing Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton for much of the night. Even with Hilton returning from injury, the wideout has proven he among the best in the game at his position. Lattimore did a phenomenal job at keeping Hilton quiet all evening.

It was not until the second half of the game when Hilton looked as if he was going to be productive. However, Lattimore continued to shut Hilton out of the game, and the wideout finished with only four receptions and 25 yards receiving. In a night where New Orleans’ pass rush was non-existent, Lattimore helped pick up the slack by playing lockdown defense on the edge.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Starting safety Vonn Bell did not see action Monday night due to injury, and rookie standout Gardner-Johnson took his place in the starting lineup. Before leaving the game with a concussion, Gardner-Johnson made his mark on the defense. During a game where, as previously mentioned, the Saints lacked any real pass rush, the rookie safety attacked the Colts backfield.

Gardner-Johnson led New Orleans in tackles on the evening with eight, and was a constant threat to Indianapolis’ rushing attack. Hopefully the rookie’s concussion will heal similarly to tight end Jared Cook’s and fans can see the special talent take the field against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16.

Michael Thomas

Can’t Guard Mike was back at it on Monday night. After another 12 receptions for a 128 yards and a touchdown, how could we not give the man a game ball? His consistent and repeated performances are becoming the status quo, and as such are beginning to fly under the radar.

Thomas is currently chasing Marvin Harrison’s single season reception record of 143, and is currently 11 receptions behind. That is essentially one game for Thomas, and New Orleans could see two huge records fall in back-to-back weeks.

Drew Brees

Easiest decision on this list. Brees led his team to the 34-7 blowout, while throwing for 307 yards and four touchdowns. Lest we forget he also broke the record for most career passing touchdowns by throwing for 541 touchdowns in his illustrious career. He also threw 30 passes, 29 of which were caught for completions, another record set for highest completion percentage in an NFL football game. Who is this guy, and how is he only 40-years old?

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Saints claim veteran CB Janoris Jenkins off of waivers from the Giants

The New Orleans Saints claimed veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins after he was waived by the New York Jenkins with an injury designation.

The New Orleans Saints claimed veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins off of waivers from the New York Giants on Monday, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo. Because the Saints play on Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, the formal acquisition of Jenkins and corresponding roster move will be delayed until Tuesday.

Jenkins was waived by the Giants with an injury designation after injuring his ankle during a recent game with the Philadelphia Eagles. His release also followed a social media dust-up between Jenkins and another user while he was receiving medical treatment during Giants practice.

Hopefully that sort of misbehavior is behind him. Jenkins was arguably New York’s best defensive player this season, having racked up a team-leading 14 passes defensed (including 4 interceptions) in just 13 games.

He’ll be reunited with former Giants teammate and Saints cornerback Eli Apple, and may push Apple for the starting job opposite Marshon Lattimore. Apple had success earlier this season as the Saints’ number-two option, but recent struggles and a rash of penalties made the addition of Jenkins worth considering for New Orleans.

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Which Saints must the Colts game plan for in Week 15?

These Saints must be in the gameplan in Week 15.

The Indianapolis Colts, currently sitting at 6-7, travel to “The Big Easy” to take on the 10-3 Saints on Monday Night Football. New Orleans is coming off a tough loss in what was perhaps the game of the year last week against San Francisco where they lost in the final minute of the game 48-46.

Colts fans have a special type of resentment towards the Saints. The obvious reasoning behind it would be the Super Bowl in 2010 where the Saints beat the Colts 31-17. The game was filled with high-powered passing offenses, an onside kick to start the second half, and the haunting Tracy Porter pick-six that sealed the win for New Orleans.

The Saints have already clinched the NFC South while the Colts are fighting for their lives in the AFC playoff race. If the Colts want to avenge that brutal Super Bowl loss and have a last-ditch effort to save their season, here are seven Saints the Colts must gameplan for in Week 15 in order to pull off the upset:

QB Drew Brees

Another piece of distain comes from Drew Brees breaking Peyton Manning’s regular season records for passing yards and passes completed. Monday night Brees has a chance to break yet another record held by Manning. Currently, Peyton sits at 539 passing touchdowns while Brees is closely behind him with 537.

You have to respect Brees and what he has been able to accomplish throughout his career. This season he missed five games with a broken thumb but has come back strong with 1,072 passing yards and 12 touchdowns over the last four games.

Getting after Brees and forcing him to move out of the pocket will be huge for the Colts pass rush led by Justin Houston. If Brees has all day to throw, it will be a long game for the Colts defense.

LB Demario Davis

Davis has revitalized his career after coming to New Orleans last season. He leads the team in tackles in 2019 with 95 total on the year. Contributing to his impressive stat sheet are also three sacks, 9.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception.

Davis is a talented linebacker with great pass rushing and run stopping abilities. The Saints love to send a combination of players on blitzes so it will be crucial for the Colts offensive line to pick up Davis and others coming off the edge and up the middle.

RB Alvin Kamara

Kamara’s season has seen limited production due to injury, but he is not to be underestimated. The third-year running back out of Tennessee took the league by storm his rookie year in 2017 and has been adjusting to team’s gameplans for him. He currently has 612 yards and one touchdown on the ground so far this season.

Where Kamara gets dangerous is in the pass game. He is a very talented receiver and has a great connection with Drew Brees. He has 68 receptions for 462 yards and a touchdown through the air as well. Stopping this dual-threat target will be huge in slowing down this Saints offense.

CB Marshon Lattimore

Another player who took the league by storm in his 2017 rookie campaign was Lattimore. He and Kamara took home the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards that year respectively. Lattimore is considered one of the best shutdown corners in the league.

He has only one interception on the season but when teams purposefully do not throw to your side, that is expected. If T.Y. Hilton is still not healthy enough to go Monday night, look for Lattimore to be on Zach Pascal down the field. He is not impossible to beat, but Jacoby Brissett has to be careful when throwing to the talented corner.

WR Michael Thomas

His Twitter handle “@Cantguardmike” says it all. Thomas is one of the best, if not the best receiver in the game currently. His size and speed makes him a matchup problem for just about anyone in the league and his impressive season has landed him in the MVP conversation.

So far on the year, Thomas has 121 catches for 1,424 yards, both of which lead the league for all receivers. He has also found the endzone eight times this year and he and Drew Brees have been clicking as of late.

Pierre Desir will likely be on Thomas but he will need some help over the top, possibly from Malik Hooker or Khari Willis. Stopping Thomas from catching everything thrown to him should help slow own this aggressive Saints pass game.

DE Cameron Jordan

The Colts have faced some good pass rushers this season (Von Miller, T.J. Watt, Yannick Ngakoue) but Jordan is by far the biggest challenge they will face up front in 2019. With 46 total tackles, one fumble recovery, and 13.5 sacks, Jordan is an absolute monster off the edge.

He typically lines up on the right side which will be a matchup problem for Braden Smith and Mark Glowinski on that side of the line. Look for the Colts to either run to the side Jordan is not on or pull Quenton Nelson to that side to try and move the ball on the ground.

Safety Marcus Williams

Williams is a very talented safety but makes mistakes in big moments. Last week against San Francisco he grabbed a hold of George Kittle’s face mask and gave the 49ers 15 extra yards which put them into easy field goal range to win the game. You may also remember Williams botched the coverage that led to the Stefon Diggs “Minnesota Miracle.”

With four interceptions on the year and 53 total tackles, Williams is having a great year. This Saints secondary has really stepped up this season and can cover just about anyone down the field. Williams is very skilled, but attacking him and getting him frustrated will be vital for the Colts passing game that is limited already due to receiver injuries.