Wow what a game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Fransisco 49ners. Four count them I said four turnovers for the Saints in the first half. Drew Brees has done a great job bringing his Saints back from a 14 point deficit. Smith and the Niners got off to a good start. The Niners lead this one at the half 17-14. Both teams defenses are starting to pick it up. The Niners were really hitting the Saints players hard and going after the football.
This game is going to be a real shootout in the second half. Both teams went into the locker room with no time outs left. This one is going to be a real battle at Candlestick. Don’t go away. Drew Brees and Alex Smith are going to put on one heck of a show in the second half.
Four turnovers. That’s all you really need to know about the first half of this game.
Fumbles by Pierre Thomas and Courtney Roby along with two Drew Brees interceptions allowed the San Francisco 49ers to get out to a scary 17-0 lead.
But the momentum changed in the second quarter as the Saints defense started tightening up and the offense got comfortable. Brees threw two touchdown strikes to Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston and narrow the gap to a manageable 17-14 score before the half.
It could be worse. The Saints are only down by 3 points despite a turnover differential of -3. If they can win the second half, they can win the game.
Pierre Thomas took a helmet-to-helmet hit early and suffered a game-ending concussion.
Click the picture to see more from today’s game. Make the jump for full first half stats. This is the open thread for the second half.
Team Stats
| NO | SF | ||
| First Downs | 13 | 8 | |
| Total Yards | 203 | 156 | |
| Passing Yards | 182 | 108 | |
| Rushing Yards | 21 | 48 | |
| Penalties (Yds) | 0(0) | 2(28) | |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 | |
| Punts (AVG) | 2(41) | 4(37) | |
| Time of Pos. | 17:47 | 12:09 |
Top Performers
| NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | ||||
| Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
| D. Brees | 23/33 | 193 | 2 | 2 |
| Rushing | CAR | YDS | TD | LG |
| C. Ivory | 4 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| P. Thomas | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| D. Sproles | 8 | 38 | 0 | 12 |
| M. Colston | 5 | 73 | 1 | 25T |
| J. Graham | 3 | 25 | 1 | 14T |
| SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | ||||
| Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
| A. Smith | 12/21 | 130 | 2 | 0 |
| Rushing | CAR | YDS | TD | LG |
| F. Gore | 6 | 32 | 0 | 15 |
| K. Hunter | 2 | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| V. Davis | 4 | 82 | 1 | 49T |
| M. Crabtree | 2 | 13 | 1 | 9 |
| F. Gore | 2 | 8 | 0 | 9 |
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Saints fight back after trailing 17-0
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You didn’t think the New Orleans Saints were just going to lay down and let the San Francisco 49ers run away and hide in their first playoff game in nine years, did you?
Drew Brees made sure his team didn’t and that the Niners wouldn’t with a dazzling 25-yard second-quarter strike to Marques Colston to narrow the gap to 17-14.
To say the Saints started the game poorly would be something of an understatement. New Orleans turned the ball over twice in its first three possessions and surrendered scores on three straight possessions to a Niners offense not exactly noted for its point-scoring prowess.
But, as one might expect of the most prolific offense in NFL history, the Saints weren’t exactly daunted by San Fran’s early three-score advantage. Brees came back with an 80-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 14-yard touchdown grab by tight end Jimmy Graham before finding Colston for an incredible pitch-and-catch on the Saints’ very next drive.
Certainly, the Saints wouldn’t go quietly into the Bay Area night, not without a bit of spicy Cajun fight of their own. Brees and Colston made sure of much heading into the half.
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The Saints must consider themselves very fortunate to be down just 17-14 at the half. They’ve committed four turnovers to just one by the 49ers, and RB Pierre Thomas is officially out for the game with a head injury. Their zone blitz schemes have gotten to 49ers QB Alex Smith three times already.
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The Saints are right back in this game. Even though they’ve all but given up on the run, QB Drew Brees is on fire, and has had all day to throw against a 49ers defense that seldom blitzes. Brees is 20-of-25 for 188 yards and two touchdowns closing in on the end of the first half.
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The 49ers defense ambushed the Saints early in the game, but Drew Brees and the offense has settled down and brought New Orleans back into contention. Here are four things the Saints are going to need to do to complete the comeback and advance to the NFC Championship:
Hold on to the Ball:
Obvious enough, right? The Saints have already coughed it up four times. If they turn the ball over again the second half, we can all start talking about next year.
Cause Some Havoc on Defense:
Every football fan knows Gregg Williams is going to keep bringing the pressure in the second half. Now it is up to the secondary to take advantage of some hurried throws. If the Saints are going to win this game, they are going to have to close the turnover margin.
Drew Brees Needs to be More Conservative:
Yes, Brees had one of the best years in the history of the NFL, but that is no reason to get cocky against the 49ers’ stout defense. This slugfest will likely be lost by mistakes rather than won by heroic offensive plays. Brees has the confidence to take risks in the passing game, but this is not the time or the place.
Use the Sidelines:
The Saints’ biggest plays have been on deep balls down the sidelines. If the Saints are going to take risks against this defense they need to do so along the sidelines so they can limit the possibility of interceptions.
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