Tag: Robert Meachem

Saints have a history of pulling off the improbable vs. Washington

The Saints have had some improbable plays go their way in the past against Washington, and they may need the same fortune this weekend:

There have been some improbable, standout moments in the past that have gone in the New Orleans Saints’ favor against the Washington Commanders.

Remember when Drew Brees threw an interception, then Robert Meachem stripped the ball away and returned it for a touchdown? What about Alvin Kamara bobbling a pass into a crowd of defenders only to catch it and squeeze through en route to the touchdown, and help send the game to overtime? Both of these plays were against Washington.

With likely no Derek Carr, the Saints find themselves in a deeper hole. New Orleans will need channel some of that energy and pull off an improbable moment or two to walk away with an improbable victory versus the Commanders.

Washington isn’t Thanos. There have been questions on if they can defeat good teams, but the thing is the Saints aren’t a good team.

The Saints are walking into a matchup they are supposed to lose and looking for an upset. It may be a turnover that is negated for some reason, or a touchdown that leaves you wondering how that happened. Regardless of the form it comes in, New Orleans could use some fortuitous bounces again.

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Robert Meachem’s 44-yard fumble recovery is the Saints Play of the Day

Robert Meachem’s 44-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown is the Saints Play of the Day. It’s one of the wildest plays you’ll see:

How’s this for a throwback? With just 44 days left until the start of the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 season, we’re highlighting Robert Meachem’s 44-yard touchdown as the Saints Play of the Day.

But it’s a little more complicated than Drew Brees throwing the football and Meachem carrying it into the end zone. You really need to see it for yourself, but here’s how the official NFL gamebook summarized the play:

(Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle intended for J.Shockey INTERCEPTED by K.Moore at WAS 30. K.Moore to WAS 44 for 44 yards (R.Meachem). FUMBLES (R.Meachem), RECOVERED  by NO-R.Meachem at WAS 44. R.Meachem for 44 yards,  TOUCHDOWN.

The Replay Assistant challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was Upheld.

That’s right — Meachem made up for his quarterback’s mistake, and then some. Falling back under pressure while facing 3rd-and-26 in the final minute before halftime, trailing 17-10, Brees forced the ball to his tight end Jeremy Shockey to try and make a play. He took the snap out of shotgun at the Washington 48-yard line and backpedaled with multiple defenders in his face, ultimately throwing from New Orleans’ 41 while being shoved to the ground.

Several defenders crashed down on Shockey and safety Kareem Moore took the ball away. Then Meachem stepped in. Moore got to his feet and tried to work his way through traffic up to midfield, but Meachem stopped him, stripped the ball away, and sprinted down the sideline for what was arguably the play of the year.

Meachem came through again in the second half, catching a 54-yard touchdown pass from Brees that forced the game to overtime. A Garrett Hartley field goal in extra minutes put them ahead 33-30. The Saints returned to New Orleans with a tough win, having improved to 12-0, and they went on to win it all in Super Bowl XLIV.

You have to wonder how things may have gone differently if Meachem hadn’t made such a heady play. What if the Saints had lost in Washington and ceded homefield advantage throughout the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings instead? Thankfully, we’re not in that timeline, so we don’t have to do more than wonder about it.

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Robert Meachem’s 55-yard catch against the Cowboys is the Saints Play of the Day

Robert Meachem’s 55-yard catch against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day back in 2010 is your New Orleans Saints Play of the Day:

There are 55 days to go until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 regular season, and today’s Saints Play of the Day countdown is a blast from the past. We’re taking it back to 2010’s Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys to highlight Robert Meachem’s 55-yard reception.

Now, Meachem didn’t score on this play, but it was about as impactful as it possibly could be while coming up short of that. The Saints were trailing 27-23 and facing 3rd-and-10 from their own 33-yard line, with just 2:25 left in regulation. The Cowboys were surging, having won each of their last two games after firing head coach Wade Phillips in favor of Jason Garrett. The Saints were defending Super Bowl champions facing an upset on a national stage.

And then Drew Brees found Meachem in single coverage sprinting down the sideline, having gotten a step on Cowboys Pro Bowl cornerback Terence Newman. He pump-faked once, then stepped up in the pocket to deliver a dart where only Meachem could get it. The receiver caught the pass in stride and flipped the field, with Newman finally bringing him down at the Dallas 12-yard line. Both sides took a breather at the two-minute warning, and then Lance Moore caught a touchdown pass from Brees to take the lead, going up 30-27 after Garrett Hartley’s extra point try sailed through the uprights.

Talk about drama. The Cowboys offense never got past the New Orleans 41-yard line after that, and a long-shot field goal attempt from 59 yards was no good. The Saints returned home with a hard-fought victory on their hands, and with new memories won for their fans.

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Robert Meachem’s 67-yard TD catch is the Saints Play of the Day

Here’s your Saints Play of the Day. Robert Meachem and Drew Brees connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions in 2011:

There are only 67 days left on the calendar until the New Orleans Saints open up their 2024 regular season, which makes this highlight our Saints Play of the Day. Robert Meachem and Drew Brees connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions back in 2011 that you could still put against any scoring play in today’s game.

The Saints were red-hot. They had beaten the New York Giants (eventual Super Bowl champions) 49-24 a week earlier on “Monday Night Football” and then were tasked with hosting the Lions on the following “Sunday Night Football” feature. New Orleans had won three in a row going into this matchup, and they didn’t slow down.

Already up with a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter, Brees took advantage of the time bought by play action to step up in the pocket and read the field. And he found Meachem waiting for him downfield, wide open against single coverage deep inside Detroit territory. Meachem caught the pass in front of Lions defensive back Eric Wright and put him in a tough spot, outmaneuvering the defender and turning him around while sprinting to the end zone. Meachem scored, celebrated with his teammate Pierre Thomas, and a quick John Kasay extra point gave the Saints a 17-0 lead.

And the good times didn’t stop there. The Saints put the Lions away 31-17 in prime time and went on to win their next five games, breaking an assortment of NFL records along the way. Depending on who you ask it was arguably the greatest season in franchise history. It’s just unfortunate how the 2011 year ended, with the Saints coming up short in one of the greatest divisional round playoff games of its generation against the San Francisco 49ers. But we’ll always have these memories.

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Highest rated football recruits in Tennessee history

A look at the highest rated recruits in Tennessee football history.

Third-year head coach Josh Heupel is on pace for a top 10 2024 recruiting class.

Tennessee has 19 commitments for its 2024 recruiting class ahead of the upcoming season. The Vols’ 2024 class ranks No. 8 nationally and No. 5 in the Southeastern Conference.

Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting class is headlined by five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews. Matthews ranks as the No. 13 overall prospect in 2024. He is the Vols’ ninth-highest rated commit all time.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football head coaches through the years

Prior to the 2023 season, Vols Wire looks at Tennessee’s highest rated recruits all time. The list below excludes players who committed to Tennessee and did not sign with the Vols.

Tennessee’s all-time wide receivers selected in first round of NFL draft

A look at Tennessee’s all-time wide receivers selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

The 2023 NFL draft will take place April 27-29 in the plaza outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.

Former Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is receiving a first-round projection ahead of the draft. Hyatt won Tennessee’s first Biletnikoff Award last season.

Hyatt would be the first Tennessee wide receiver drafted in the first round since 2013. He would also be the 12th Vols’ wide receiver drafted in the first round.

PHOTOS: Tennessee’s Wide Receiver U through the years

Ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, Vols Wire looks at Tennessee’s 11 wide receivers who were selected in the first round. The Vols’ 11 wide receivers selected in the first round are listed below.