The Kevin Buckles Report: Saints vs. Vikings Game Analysis
Overview:
A cool “Brees” swept into the Minneapolis Metrodome on Sunday and left the Vikings and their fans “Pondering” for the third time in three years as to why they cannot defeat the New Orleans Saints. After a shaky start, the Saints dominated the second half, out-scoring the Vikings 21-7 en route to a 42-20 blowout. Granted it was versus a 2-11 team, Drew Brees and company did exactly what they were suppose to do versus a much lesser opponent. That cannot be taken for granted at all seeing that the Saints have losses to the 2-12 Rams and 4-10 Buccaneers in the loss column. Half way through the second quarter however, it looked like it could be one of those infamous stinkers that the Saints occasionally put up but luckily they turned it around quickly. Drew Brees had one of his best games as a Saint, finishing 32/40, for 412 yards, 5 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He became only the sixth quarterback ever to finish a game with at least 5 touchdown-passes, over 400 passing yards, and no interceptions. With Aaron Rodgers not looking like the Aaron Rodgers of normal against the Kansas City Chiefs, suffering his first loss of the season, Drew Brees has to be strongly considered for MVP at this point. With their win on Sunday, the Saints have an opportunity to seal the NFC South next Monday Night versus the Atlanta FalCANTS…excuse me, Falcons.
What I Liked:
DEFENSE
Gregg Williams defense has continued to surge and play at a consistent high level for the fourth game in a row, as they head into this week in preparation for next week’s primetime showdown versus the Falcons. Ironically, it was Week 10’s performance against Atlanta in the Georgia Dome where the Saints defense seemed to turn a huge corner. Since that game the defense has only allowed two first half touchdowns, which helps explain why the Saints have outscored their last four opponents by an average of 14 points. The most impressive task I’ve seen the defense master over the last four games has been their play on third down. They’ve only allowed opposing offenses to convert 12 third downs in a total 46 attempts in the last four games, for a staggering 26%. Just to put that in perspective a bit, the Saints offense has converted 19 third downs in the last two games alone. Along with coming up with key third down stops, they virtually shut down any type of passing game that Christian Ponder tried to establish, and also made Adrian Peterson a non-factor. Other than a big 39-yard run by him mid-second quarter, Peterson was held to a mere 21 yards on 9 carries. Percy Harvin, the Vikings other big offensive threat, was also a no-show, catching only three passes for eight yards, and one carry for –1 yards. This was coming off of a game where he finished with 10 catches and a touchdown, to go along with 40 rushing yards. This New Orleans Saints defense looks like it’s playing on the cusp of its potential, and it couldn’t come at a better time.
MARQUES COLSTON
Marques Colston is quietly just 83 yards away from having his fifth 1, 000-yard receiving season in his six years as a pro, proving to be a model of consistency for a wide receiver in the NFL. The lone year where he didn’t finish with 1, 000 yards, he missed five games with a torn ligament in his thumb and still finished the season with 760 receiving yards in 11 games. Perhaps it’s because he does not have a “diva” quality about him like most receivers do, or because his touchdown celebrations aren’t exuberant enough (such as Saints WR Lance Moore), that he doesn’t get the credit that he is due which includes him not being selected once for a Pro Bowl yet. Despite all of that, the Saints are very lucky to have a player of that caliber suiting up for them. He gets lost in the shuffle a bit with all of the media attention that guys like Sproles, Graham, and Moore get, but Colston is just as effective and important to this potent offense. He has been hot as of late, catching 32 passes for 444 yards, including two critical touchdown catches versus the Tennessee Titans. As the quiet leader of the Saints receiving corps, Marques sets a tremendous example and can be credited some with the emergence of second-year tight end Jimmy Graham. With number 12’s consistent play and unsung leadership, he’s very much deserving of more recognition and respect.
DREW BREES FOR MVP
Drew Brees had one of the best performances you’ll see from a quarterback Sunday versus the Vikings, continuing the hot streak he’s been on for the last five games. Through that period he has thrown for 16 touchdowns with zero interceptions, 1,776 yards, with a 72.3 completion percentage. He remains on pace to shatter Dan Marino’s singe season passing record, as well as break his own record set in 2009, for best completion percentage in a season. He also has matched his career high of quarterback rating of 109. The last time he finished a season with a quarterback rating of 109, he led the Saints to their first Super Bowl appearance, and victory. Brees couldn’t have picked a better time to have such a big game, seeing that Aaron Rodgers had an off game en route to the Packers losing their first game of the season. If the Packers would’ve finished with an undefeated season, by all means Rodgers should’ve been MVP, but now Drew Brees needs to be inserted into the conversation immediately. Brees is easily having one of the best seasons statistically that the NFL has ever seen. Not to mention his team is the hottest in the league, winners of six straight games, with an 11-3 record. At the VERY least, Co-MVP talks should be on the horizon for Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers.
What I didn’t Like:
TURNOVERS
The Saints turned the ball over twice in Sunday’s game, giving the Vikings life and making the game significantly closer than it should’ve been early on. Astoundingly, that marked the first time in six weeks that the Saints had committed a turnover. Fortunately for them, they were playing a weak team, and were able to quickly recover and put the game out of hand. However, going forward the Saints cannot afford to have careless miscues heading into the playoffs. Although they have a potent, quick-striking, machine as an offense, they must try to avoid beating themselves at any point in a game and just assume they’re going to come back and win. They’re not going to be lucky enough to play the Vikings every week going forward, so they must address the turnover issues promptly.
Key to the Victory:
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line has been absolutely dominating games as of late propelling the Saints rushing game as well as keeping Drew Brees clean. Going up against a top ten rushing defense and a top three sacking defense in the Vikings, the Saints were able to pile up 161 yards on 38 rushes, and keep Brees from being sacked. It seems as if the line has taken a significant turn for the better after right tackle Zach Strief returned from a knee injury. Since then, the Saints have only allowed four sacks in the last six games. In the last game Strief did not play in (vs. the Rams), the offensive line allowed Brees to be sacked an alarming six times. Starting Center, Brian De La Puente’s play has also helped to solidify the offensive front. If they keep playing at the high level that they are, the Saints offense will only continue to flourish.
Player of the Game:
JERMON BUSHROD
The only legitimate shot the Vikings had defeating the Saints was getting consistent pressure on Drew Brees. One of the few bright spots on this Minnesota Vikings team this season has been the dominant play of defensive end Jared Allen. Allen came into the game on Sunday leading the NFL in sacks with 17.5, and was fresh off of a three-sack performance against the Detroit Lions. However, Saints starting left tackle Jermon Bushrod definitely rose to the occasion in protecting Brees’ blindside and handled Allen for most of the game. Allen was held without a sack for only the third time this season, and was ineffective, for the most part, finishing with only two tackles. Bushrod did an exceptional job on Allen, allowing Brees to have one of the most efficient games of his career, and for that he was Sunday’s player of the game.
The great outdoors: There has been a lot of talk about how New Orleans’ offense is built for a dome and doesn’t play as well outdoors. But some numbers dispute that. According to ESPN Stats & Information, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees completed 61.9 percent of his throws of 21 yards or more down field during the regular season when playing outdoors. In indoor games, Brees completed only 50 percent of his passes of 21 yards or more.
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