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One poor game from New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons has a surprising number of analysts, pundits, and fans asking “Were the Saints better off with Teddy Bridgewater under center?” The simple answer to that question is simple: no.
A lot of drama was stirred up from the shocking loss to the Falcons during Week 10, but quarterback controversy should not be a part of any of that. It is true that Bridgewater led New Orleans to five straight wins in the absence of Brees. It is also a fact that Brees had one of his less-than-stellar performances during Week 10.
But let’s put all of this into perspective. In Bridgewater’s five starts this season he averaged a 103.68 QB rating, 241 passing yards, and a 70.14% completion rate per game; not too shabby. If we are to believe the pundits like FOX Sports host Ben Maller, then Brees’ game during Week 10 was worth benching the future Hall of Famer over. However, even in that game the future Brees threw for nearly 300 yards and kept the ball safe, while still completing over 70% of his passes. In Brees’ very first game back from injury just two weeks earlier, he looked like his vintage self, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns, compiling a 116.4 QB rating. While the sample size is limited this year, Brees does not look like the over-the-hill quarterback some have described.
What happened during Week 10 was an anomaly, at least historically that has been the case for contending Saints squads. The offensive line was banged up or ill (Andrus Peat exited with a broken arm, and Terron Armstead was playing with the flu), as evidenced by the season-high six sacks. New Orleans’ inability to get the run going, as evidenced by just 11 rush attempts, kept the team from spreading the field as they often do. On top of that, self-inflicted penalties by the defense killed momentum, and continually gave life to the Falcon’s offense.
All of that being said, Brees did make a few errant throws, one in particular to wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith during the second quarter, which sailed over the receiver’s head. Had the pass been slightly more accurate, Smith could have potentially had a huge gain. Multiple drops by Ted Ginn Jr., and a season-long lack of production from every other receiver not named Michael Thomas helped to impede Brees and Sean Payton’s game plan.
Let’s keep it real: the entire New Orleans squad played poorly from top to bottom, and one bad game is nowhere near enough to question the Saints’ quarterback situation, nor is it enough to question whether Brees is truly feeling his age. While Bridgewater kept the team afloat, there’s no question that the team is in better position to win with Brees under center.
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