Tag: Score

Michael Thomas says he caught 7 passes last week with a broken hand

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas took some happiness in seeing the Minnesota Vikings fall, and shed some light on his injury.

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The Minnesota Vikings were steamrolled by the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs, losing 27-10 on the road just a week after they beat the New Orleans Saints in a big upset.

Few people were as happy to see Minnesota fall on its face as Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, the two-time first-team All-Pro who led his team with seven catches for 70 yards in the wild-card round. Thomas had himself a ball going back-and-forth with Vikings fans on social media, but added an interesting detail — he says he played with a broken hand last week.

It’s possible he’s telling the truth. Thomas was limited in practice for two weeks with an unspecified hand injury, and his production in his final two games noticeably trailed off from his season averages. In those last two matchups with the Vikings and Carolina Panthers, Thomas caught just 11 passes for 107 yards; he averaged 9.3 receptions per game and 107.8 receiving yards per game in the 2019 season. So a broken hand would explain the drop-off.

However, the other part of Thomas’s statement isn’t exactly correct. He called out the Vikings receiving corps for failing to show up against the 49ers, joking, “I don’t think anyone got more than (one) catch,” but the truth is that Stefon Diggs (two receptions) and Adam Thielen (five catches) combined for as many completions as Thomas posted a week ago. That isn’t exactly ideal, and their struggles against a 49ers secondary that Thomas and his teammates dropped 46 points on does a lot to explain why this one was so lopsided.

Now, here’s hoping Thomas spends his offseason healing up and getting his body right. He took a lot of hits while breaking the NFL single-season record for catches (149), and appears to have even broken his hand. The Saints should be right back in Super Bowl contention next season, and they’ll need Thomas to lead them again if they’re going to reach that goal.

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Saints’ season comes to abrupt end, Vikings win in overtime 26-20

The New Orleans Saints 2019 season ended abruptly, with a wild-card round playoffs exit after losing to the Minnesota Vikings, 26-20.

Things didn’t go as planned for the New Orleans Saints. They entered the playoffs as a heavy favorite to go the distance and win the Super Bowl, but the Minnesota Vikings hit them in the mouth, took the lead, and didn’t let go, even if the Saints rallied late to force the game to overtime. A touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Kyle Rudolph on third down from the goal-line stunned the Saints defense, and gave Minnesota the 26-20 victory.

The Saints just didn’t execute well. Their offensive line, stocked with Pro Bowl and All-Pro talent, was bullied by an admittedly strong Vikings defensive line. Left guard Andrus Peat has been the weak link in that chain for years, and on Sunday, he broke. While Drew Brees didn’t have his sharpest day at quarterback, too often he wasn’t given any time to even read the field before his vision filled with purple jerseys.

And it’s not like Vikings coach Mike Zimmer did anything exotic, groundbreaking, or seriously creative. He moved his best pass rushers inside so that they would have a speed-to-power advantage over the Saints guards. New Orleans’ big men up front never really struggled to mirror their opponents or move around; they simply failed to win one-on-one battles. It was a battle of fundamentals that the Vikings won.

It’s disappointing to see the Saints’ season end this way. After everything they’ve fought through — injuries to everyone from rookie backup linebackers to the franchise quarterback, suspensions before and during the season, tough-to-swallow losses to longtime rivals — they’ve gone out with a whimper. It’s almost anticlimactic. Even on Sunday they rallied around a defense that came through in so many clutch moments and rode a furious spark from do-it-all quarterback Taysom Hill. But it wasn’t enough when the offense couldn’t pick itself up off the floor.

The good news is that they’ll be back. Brees played so well this season that it’s impossible to think he’ll leave the game behind, not with so much unfinished business. The Saints’ core players are all either young or under contract for the foreseeable future. Next year’s schedule compares favorably to the season they just had. They’ll enter the 2020 offseason just as likely to go all the way as they were in this one.

But that disappointment can’t be overlooked. They shouldn’t be going into a long offseason looking to chase that elusive second Super Bowl trophy. They should be defending a championship and hoping to secure a third. Instead, the Saints are back in familiar territory — as underachievers.

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WATCH: Marshawn Lynch punches it in from the 1-yard line

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch scored a touchdown from the 1-yard Sunday night, Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Marshawn Lynch no longer has unfinished business.

The Seahawks gave the ball to Lynch on the one-yard line Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers and the running back punched it in to score his first touchdown in his second stint in Seattle.

Unlike in Super Bowl XLIX, the powers that be opted to run the ball and turned to the one player who could get it done.

Lynch didn’t get his first carry of the game until late in the first quarter. As expected, rookie Travis Homer got the start Sunday night. Here’s a look at Lynch’s first touch.

Although the Seahawks ultimately lost the game 26-21, the fans got to see what they’ve been waiting over four years for . . . the return of Lynch and his epic touchdown performances.

Lynch finished the night with 12 carries for 34 yards and the one score. He and the Seahawks will face off against the Eagles in Philadelphia in the wild-card round next weekend.

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Saints beat Panthers 42-10, finish regular season with 13-3 record

The New Orleans Saints handled the Carolina Panthers with flair, but their spot in the NFC playoff picture is out of their hands.

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The New Orleans Saints demolished the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, closing out the regular season with a 13-3 record and their seventh consecutive win on the road. It’s just the fourth time in 52 years the Saints have won 13 games in a single season, joining the 2009, 2011, and 2018 seasons as the best regular season campaigns in Saints history.

New Orleans was unstoppable in every phase of the game, gaining 379 yards on offense while creating three turnovers on defense and limiting the Panthers to 29 yards gained on special teams. Jared Cook led the team with 60 receiving yards, catching both of his targets. Latavius Murray and Alvin Kamara combined for 100 rushing yards on 25 attempts. Drew Brees was an effective 19-of-30 for 253 passing yards and three touchdown throws, avoiding even a single sack.

The Saints handled their business in Charlotte, but the work is hardly finished. All eyes now look towards the playoffs, where the Saints must hope for the Seattle Seahawks to upset the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. The Detroit Lions nearly defeated the Green Bay Packers, which would have clinched a first-round bye for the Saints, but Detroit’s injury-ravaged roster couldn’t pull it off. While the Saints may not have home-field advantage through the playoffs, they do have one of the NFL’s best records on the road over the last three years. This team can beat anyone, anywhere.

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Packers trail Lions 17-3 at halftime, bodes well for Saints playoff standings

The Green Bay Packers went into halftime with a double-digit deficit against the Detroit Lions, helping the New Orleans Saints playoffs hunt

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Things are off to a great start for the New Orleans Saints in Week 17. They’re set up to go into halftime with a 35-3 lead over the Carolina Panthers, while the Green Bay Packers are stewing over a 17-3 deficit against the Detroit Lions. These situations combine for serious implications for the NFC playoff standings.

If the Saints and Lions both hold onto their leads and win their games, the Saints would clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs, demoting the Packers to the third seed. While that alone won’t guarantee the road to Super Bowl LIV runs through New Orleans, the extra time to rest up would do a lot to help a Saints team managing injuries at multiple important positions — starting defensive backs Vonn Bell, Marcus Williams, and Eli Apple were each inactive against Carolina with various issues.

In order to get the first seed in the NFC, the Saints need the Packers to lose to the Lions while the San Francisco 49ers lose to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. That would give the Saints and Seahawks first-round byes as the top two seeds, while the Packers would have to host a playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings next week. The wild-card 49ers would have to go on the road to play the NFC East winner, which has yet to be determined.

It’s a lot to keep track of, but we’ve got you covered. Check back later for updates, and keep rooting for the Lions to pull off this upset.

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Sports Illustrated CFB analyst predicts Alabama win over Michigan

Steve Deace, who mainly covers the Big Ten conference, wrote a piece predicting the outcome of every bowl game Big Ten teams are involved in – this includes Michigan as they’ll take on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl. Deace predicts a Crimson Tide win …

Steve Deace, who mainly covers the Big Ten conference, wrote a piece predicting the outcome of every bowl game Big Ten teams are involved in – this includes Michigan as they’ll take on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl.

Deace predicts a Crimson Tide win over the Wolverines with a final score of 45-31.

He goes on to explain his thought process behind the score prediction and how he thinks the flow of the game will go:

“This will be a high-scoring game on a fast track,” says Deace, “The Wolverines have the experience and firepower to exploit what’s been at times a pedestrian defense by traditional Nick Saban standards. On the other hand, I don’t give Michigan’s secondary much of a chance in man coverage against arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history. The other big edge in the game is Alabama’s imposing offensive line against a quick, agile, but undersized Michigan defensive front. Expect Najee Harris to gash Don Brown in the running game.”

Deace’s argument about the Alabama receiving corps giving the Michigan secondary problems is valid, as they allowed, on average, 170 passing yards per game; whereas Alabama had roughly 345 passing yards per game.

Sep 14, 2019; Columbia, SC, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) celebrate after a play against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

However, the passing game isn’t the only factor when comparing Nick Saban’s offense to Jim Harbaugh’s defense. With Tua Tagovailoa out and Mac Jones playing, Alabama may look to utilize their weapons out of the backfield a little more.

Alabama averaged 170 rushing yards per game, with most of those coming from Najee Harris, and Michigan allowed 120 yards per game in the 2019 regular season.

It seems like what Deace is trying to highlight is that the 2019 Citrus Bowl will come down to if Michigan’s defense will be able to stop Mac Jones, who is looking to impress, and a handful of skill position players who are trying to improve their already first round draft grades.

The 2020 VRBO Citrus Bowl will be played in Orlando, Florida on Jan. 1 and it can be watched on ABC at 1:00 p.m. ET.

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Studs and Duds from Saints’ 38-28 victory over Titans

The New Orleans Saints proved their mettle in a 38-28 road victory over the Tennessee Titans, rallying back from an early 14-0 deficit to take the lead and hold onto it for the rest of the game. A number of standout performances made that happen, …

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The New Orleans Saints proved their mettle in a 38-28 road victory over the Tennessee Titans, rallying back from an early 14-0 deficit to take the lead and hold onto it for the rest of the game. A number of standout performances made that happen, while a few less-than-stellar individual mistakes and mismatches put them in that hole in the first place. Here’s your Week 16 Studs and Duds.

Studs

Have a day, Michael Thomas. The Pro Bowl, All-Pro wide receiver finished the game with a dozen receptions for 136 receiving yards and the final touchdown score, good enough to break records set by all-time greats like Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison. Thomas was consistently too much for the Titans defense to handle, and Drew Brees was quick to recognize it by giving Thomas so many targets.

Let’s not forget Alvin Kamara, either. He’s been slow to get back up to speed from some early-season injuries, but his 110 yards from scrimmage and two touchdown runs against Tennessee did a lot to put him back on the map. If he’s truly back to his old self and ready for the playoffs, the Saints offense might be unstoppable. They’ve averaged more than 35 points per game since the post-bye Falcons upset, which feels like a lifetime ago.

How about Deonte Harris? The rookie Pro Bowler looked the part on kick and punt returns, ending his day with 183 all-purpose yards. He was a mismatch against a sloppy Titans special teams unit, which was doing its best to avoid kicking to him later in the game. But Harris has proven he can take a game over if given the chance, and that’s a huge asset to add to the Saints’ arsenal as the calendar turns towards the playoffs in January.

We’ll close out this segment with Demario Davis. The veteran linebacker was on fire against the Titans, flowing towards the ball in run defense while remaining active on passing downs. He led the Saints with 11 tackles (9 solo), including a pair of big tackles for loss of yards. He also chipped in a sack and two hits, along with his weekly pass deflection. Saints fans have spent a decade praying for good — not even great, just good — linebacker play, but Davis has given them an elite performance to look forward to each week. His Pro Bowl snub is a glaring omission from the NFL’s all-star game.

Duds

It wasn’t the debut Janoris Jenkins probably hoped for, having been given just a few days of practice before getting rushed into action on Sunday. When Eli Apple and Marcus Williams exited the game with injuries, the Saints had to scramble to put a patchwork secondary together, which meant more exposure for Jenkins than anticipated. He was at fault for one touchdown pass, drew a coverage penalty early on, and struggled to communicate with his new teammates at times throughout the game. The good news is that he should improve rapidly with more practice time.

Speaking of Marcus Williams: he’s a frustrating player, who too often spikes what should have been a great play with a careless mistake. He allowed two big gains in coverage by making the correct read and getting into position, but failing to wrap up for a clean tackle. That’s been the story of his year — despite the team-leading interceptions total (4) and knack for quick play diagnosis, he’s still making these sloppy mistakes in big moments, and costing his team. He’s a young player and should continue to grow and develop, but any missed time with this groin injury will delay that maturation.

The Saints offensive line can’t get healthy soon enough. They were missing starting guards Andrus Peat and Larry Warford, and the Titans pass-rush unit took advantage with three big sacks against Brees. Even standout right tackle Ryan Ramczyk allowed a sack, while center Erik McCoy made a few rookie mistakes. New Orleans struggled to get much going on the ground until Kamara found a lane and traveled 40 yards for a touchdown; outside of that play, the Saints averaged just 3.42 yards per carry. Backup guards Nick Easton and Will Clapp can start in a pinch, but this game proved they can’t hold up in extended action against a competent defensive front.

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Sean Payton appreciates Drew Brees’ record night, but he’s keeping his team focused

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton was happy for quarterback Drew Brees, but he’s focused on the importance of winning these big games.

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Few people were as happy to see New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees shatter the NFL’s all-time record for career touchdown passes as the coach who recruited and work with him. Sean Payton praised his quarterback’s performance on Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, but he took a bigger view of his team’s 34-7 win rather than dwell on Brees’ personal accomplishments.

“Honestly, the win means a lot,” Payton replied when asked what Brees breaking the record meant to him as a coach. “There’s going to be a day where we all ride off into the sunset, but it’s not now. Like I said, there’s a lot at stake right now relative to these games.”

The NFC playoff picture is crowded, especially at the top. The Saints are locked into a three-way tie with the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers; because the Packers are in the mix, the Saints’ head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seahawks is thrown out in favor of in-conference records. That gives the Seahawks an edge over the Packers, who are then seeded above the Saints. It’s complicated.

Payton emphasized the importance of staying focused on their next opponent: the desperate Tennessee Titans, who have their backs against the wall and need to win to avoid elimination from the AFC playoff picture.

“When you look at the top of the NFC and we’re very competitive, we’re going to play another team in the hunt next week that has played real well,” Payton continued. “It’s something we’ve seen happen and I think (Brees will) tell you the same thing. It’s about winning. It’s about winning and winning and winning and trying to give yourself the best chance in the postseason. And that’s really the truth.”

So, sure, he took some satisfaction in seeing Brees shock the world from football’s biggest stage. But it’s something Payton has seen before. And his responsibility is to keep the big picture in mind, and to be mindful of what his team needs to see and hear from its leaders. And his message to them is clear: enjoy this, but don’t lose focus.

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Sean Payton on Drew Brees’ 29-of-30 passes: ‘He’ll get a minus on that play’

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton could only laugh after quarterback Drew Brees went 29-of-30 against the Indianapolis Colts.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke the NFL’s all-time record for career touchdown passes on Monday Night Football against the Indianapolis Colts, leading his team to a 34-7 victory in prime-time. But what’s almost as impressive is that he did so while failing to complete just one of his thirty pass attempts, spiking a throwaway at the feet of running back Latavius Murray on a busted screen play.

In other words, Brees went 29-of-30 as a passer, posting a completion percentage of 96.7%. That’s an NFL-record mark for single-game completion percentage, and it just speaks to the accuracy Brees possesses every time the ball leaves his hand.

When asked about that lone incomplete pass during his postgame media availability, Saints coach Sean Payton needed some help remembering it — after all, Brees had just torched a solid defense in historic fashion. But once reminded, all Payton could do was smirk and admit that, yes, that one play would go down as a negative during film study. Everything seems to be going the Saints’ way on Monday night.

Drew Brees is flawless as Saints beat Colts 34-7 on Monday Night Football

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, with Drew Brees turning in a record-breaking performance.

The New Orleans Saints might be peaking at the right time. They put together a complete game during Monday night’s matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, with quarterback Drew Brees turning in a vintage performance. It might be even better than that.

Brees completed 29 of his 30 pass attempts, including his final 22 throws. He broke Peyton Manning’s record for career touchdown passes (539), and then lobbed one more score to set the high-water mark at 541. He averaged 10.2 yards per completion. Brees connected with nine different receivers on the night, though Michael Thomas (who else?) paved the way by catching all 12 of his targets and gaining 128 yards, including Brees’ first touchdown pass.

Those efforts helped ensure Brees could take most of the fourth quarter off, with backup Teddy Bridgewater stepping in to close it out.

And New Orleans had success on the ground, too. Alvin Kamara paved the way with 67 rushing yards on 14 attempts, also catching all five of his targets for 23 more yards through the air.

On defense, the Saints turned in a huge rebound from last week’s ugly performance against the San Francisco 49ers. They only sacked Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett once, but hit him eight different times and deflected four of his passes. Linebacker Demario Davis made several stellar plays in pass coverage to force the Colts offense to leave the field empty-handed on third down.

The special teams units turned in some quality moments, too, including an early blocked punt. They didn’t make much headway on returns against the Colts coverage units, but the Saints prevented Indianapolis from picking up any yards of their own in the return game.

It was as complete a game as the Saints have played this year. This victory keeps them in the hunt for a top-two seed in the NFC playoff picture, and could do a lot to build momentum as they continue to march towards Super Bowl LIV.