GAME BLOG: New Orleans Saints vs New England Patriots

Written by Ken Trahan, President--NewOrleans.Com/Sports | Monday, 30 November 2009 16:21 | Saints News

After a week of hype both locally and nationally, what else is left to say? The unbeaten Saints host the Patriots tonight:

10:35 p.m.
A statement win before a national television audience tonight as the Saints whip the Patriots 38-17 tonight. This one was never in doubt. The Saints dominated the first half and controlled the second half. Drew Brees was magnificent, 18 of 23 for 371 yards and 5 touchdowns with no picks. It was perhaps the best game ever by a Saints quarterback. He finished with a perfect passer rating of 158.3. You cannot do much better. The Saints rushed for 113 yards to total 480 for the game against a beleaguered New England defense. Tom Brady was 21 of 36 for 237 yards and 2 interceptions. No doubt who was better tonight. The Saints forced 3 turnovers. Marques Colston had four catches for 121 yards and a score. Devery Henderson had 3 catches for 116 yards and a score. Brees' five TD passes went to five different receivers. Make it 11-0 heading into a trip to the nation's capitol to face the Redskins off of a short week Sunday night. The Saints left the country with long memories with their brilliant performance tonight.       

10:27 p.m.
Mike Bell limps off again. Earlier, it was a stinger. This time, it looks like an ankle. 2 minute warning. Saints to punt.

10:24 p.m.
The Pats go 3-and-out. Punt to the Saints. Henderson fair catch at his own 22 with 3:58 left to play. Brees still in.

10:22 p.m.
The Patriots have thrown in the towel, replacing Brady with Brian Hoyer. Former St. Augustine running back Benjarvus Green-Ellis is in at running back.

10:20 p.m.
The Saints cannot move it and John Carney misses badly, wide right on a 37-yard field goal attempt. You have to be a bit concerned about Carney. He has not looked good tonight. Garrett Hartley is on the roster. Might their be a thought about a change? New England gets it back with 5:26 to play, trailing the Saints 38-17.  

10:17 p.m.
Darren Sharper gets his 8th interception of the season, returning it 38 yards to the Patriots 25-yard line. That was the kill-shot, just in case it was in any doubt at all. Saints with a chance to get more, leading 38-17.

10:14 p.m.
Colston now has 4 catches for 121 yards while Devery Henderson has 3 catches for 116 yards. The last time two receivers had 100 yards in a game for the Saints was November 5, 2006 when Colston (11 for 123) and Henderson (3 for 111) turned the trick at Tampa Bay.  

10:11 p.m.
This amazing night for Drew Brees continues. He drives the Saints 75 yards in 9 plays, taking 5:18 off the clock and the Saints score on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Marques Colston to make it 38-17 Saints with 7:49 to play in the game. Brees is now 18 of 22 for 371 yards and 5 touchdowns. Incredible! Brees now has 115 touchdown passes as a Saint, tying him for 2nd on the all-time list in Saints history with Archie Manning. Think he'll pass him?    

10:02 p.m.
The Saints defense gets a needed 3-and-out, forcing a Chris Hanson punt. Hanson punts 50 yards and  Henderson loses 5 on the return to the Saints 25-yard line. New Orleans ball, 13:07 to play in the game and the Saints leading 31-17. Drew Brees has a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3.

9:57 p.m.
Brees makes a rare bad throw, underthrowing an open Marques Colston for what would have been a first-down. Saints have to punt it away and play defense. Patriots ball at their own 15-yard line with 14:47 to play with New Orleans on top 31-17.

9:54 p.m.
End of the third quarter and the Saints lead New England 31-17. Saints have a 382-341 edge in total yards. Drew Brees is 14 of 16 for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns. New England has dominated time of possesion. They have had it for 27:31 to 17:29 for New Orleans. Saints have it 3rd and 12 from their own 35-yard line after a sack of Brees, New England's first.

9:47 p.m.
New England drives to the New Orleans 10-yard line. On fourth and four, they go for it. Mike McKenzie comes up huge again, breaking up a pass intended for Randy Moss. Saints get a huge stop, taking over at their 10 with 4:08 to play in the 3rd quarter, still up 31-17 on the Patriots.

9:38 p.m.
How easy has it been for the Saints? Their five scoring drives have taken less than 11 minutes. Dinkins becomes the 19th player to score this year for the Saints. The franchise record for a single season is 21.  

9:36 p.m.
This is turning into a track meet, which many expected. On the first play from scrimmage following New England's kickoff, Brees hits Marques Colston for 68 yards to the New England 6 yard line. 2 plays later, Brees hits Darnell Dinkins on a 2-yard touchdown pass, his 4th touchdown pass of the game. It took all of 3 plays and 1:22 to go 74 yards. 31-17 Saints with 9:02 to play in the third quarter.   

9:31 p.m.
New England takes full advantage of the Ellis fumble, driving 80 yards in 9 plays, scoring on a Lawrence Maroney 4-yard run to make it 24-17 with 10:24 to play in the third quarter. The big play was a 47 yard pass from Brady to a wide open Randy Moss, who lost Chris McAlister, who took his eye off the receiver. Darren Sharper lost coverage on Moss as well. Saints need to answer. Their chopped-up secondary will have a tough time the rest of the way in this one. No Porter. No Greer. No Gay. No way?  

9:22 p.m.
Randall Gay is out for the rest of the game with a leg injury. An injury-depleted secondary takes another blow. Sean Payton wastes a challenge. Brady hits Maroney for 6 yards, Scott Fujita forces a fumble, Sedrick Ellis recovers, returns it 7 yards, fumbles, and the Patriots recover. Blown opportunity. Ellis would not go down and gave it up. He clearly fumbled and Payton inexplicably challenged it and lost a timeout.   

9:18 p.m.
Morstead kicks off to start the second half and puts it deep in the end zone. Touchback.  

9:16 p.m.
Devery Henderson has 3 catches for 116 yards and a score. The Saints forced the only turnover of the half on Mike McKenzie's interception.

9:04 p.m.
Stephen Gustkowski misses a 50-yard field goal wide left with :13 to play in the first half. The Saints get it at theier own 41-yard line with :13 left and 3 timeouts but Coach Payton elects to take a knee. Quite a half for the Saints, who lead 24-10 o ver New England at the half. Drew Brees is on fire, completing 11 of 13 passes for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns. Pierre Thomas has 7 carries for 44 yards. The Saints have amassed 283 total yards to for 197 yards for the Patriots. Tom Brady is 12 for 21 for 124 yards with an interception. New England has dominated time of possession wiht 18:01 to just 11:59 for the Saints but it does not matter. The Saints have scored quickly and often. New England will get the ball to start the second half.  

8:55 p.m.
And it takes Brees just one play to get seven more points. Brees hits Robert Meachem on a perfectly thrown 38-yard post pattern for the score. Meachem beats Jonathan Wilhite. 5 play drive, 76 yards, 2:24 off the clock. 24-10 Saints with 1:50 to play in the first half. Scintillating stuff from the New Orleans offense.

8:51 p.m.
2 minute warning....Saints driving again. Brees hits Pierre Thomas for 3 yards, Devery Henderson for 8 yards and a first-down, Thomas runs for 2 yards and then Brees hits David Thomas for 25 yards off the screen look in the seem. Great call and great execution. Saints at the New England 38-yard line with 1:57 to play in the half with all three timeouts remaining. 17-10 Saints still leading.    

8:47 p.m.
New England cuts the Saints lead to 17-10 with 4:14 to play in the first half. The Patriots drive 11 plays, 58 yards, taking 5:39 off the clock with Stephen Gustkowski booting a 36-yard field goal.      

8:38 p.m.
Amazingly, Drew Brees looks off the defense left, comes back right and finds Devery Henderson running alone. He hits him and Henderson runs 75 yards for the easiest score you will ever see. Make it 17-7 Saints with 9:53 to play in the first half. Brees looked the linebacker off, pump fakes left and came back right to Henderson who completely lose Jerod Mayo. The 75 yard play is the longest play from scrimmage for the Saints this season.

8:34 p.m.
Mike McKenzie makes an excellent open field tackle on Sam Aiken to stop him 2 yards short of a first-down on 3rd and 5, forcing a New England punt. Henderson returns to the New Orleans 25. Saints ball with 10:02 to play in the first half, leading 10-7. 

8:30 p.m.
Mike Bell suffered a stinger and should return. Good news. Patriots make a first down on a 10-yard pass from Brady to Wes Welker. Timeout Pats--11:00 minutes to play in the first half. New England playing 2nd and five from their own 43-yard line. Saints lead 10-7. 

8:27 p.m.
Sign in the end zone says, "Hey Bill, go for it--11-0." Bill is 2 for 2 on fourth down in this one so far.  

8:22 p.m.
The Saints take the lead 10-7 with with 12:55 to play in the first half. The Saints go 7 plays, 59 yards in 3:07 with Drew Brees connecting with Pierre Thomas on an 18-yard touchdown pass on a screen pass right. Thomas broke three tackles en route to the end zone. Thomas accounted for 48 of the 59 yards on the drive for New Orleans. Brees is now 6 of 8 for 80 yards and a score.  

8:18 p.m.
On first down from the Pats 29, Mike Bell gains a yard but goes down, injured. Being tended to by training staff. Timeout. 7-3 New England with 14:48 to play in the half. Bell gets up and it does not look bad. That's good.  

8:14 p.m.
And the first quarter ends with New England up 7-3 but the Saints have something going. On 2nd and six, Pierre Thomas finds a huge hole inside and bolts 26-yards to the Patriots' 30-yard line. New England has 80 total yards to 104 yards for the Saints.   

8:11 p.m.
And the Saints defense comes up big. On the first play from scrimmage, Mike McKenzie picks off Brady, returning it to the Saints 41-yard line. What a way to return for McKenzie, who started as the nickel back tonight. 1:02 to play in the opening quarter, still 7-3 New England. 21st interception of the season for New Orleans and the 30th turnover forced by the Saints.

8:08 p.m.
The Saints offense gets one first down on a 15-yard completion from Brees to Shockey but Brees misses Robert Meachem open deep. Meachem wasn't looking for the ball which was slightly overthrown. On the ensuing punt, Thomas Morstead punts 41-yards and Wes Welker returns it 41 yards to the New Orleans 46 with 1:14 to pay in the first quarter, 7-3 Pats.     

8:04 p.m.
Courtney Roby returns the kickoff to the New Orleans 25-yard line. Saints ball for the second time with 3:29 to play in the opening quarter. Tom Brady was 3 of 5 for 33 yards on the opening drive. Great balance for the Pats.  

8:02 p.m.
47 of the 80 yards on the drive were rushing yards. If the Saints cannot slow the run, they will be in for a very tough night defensively.  

8:00 p.m.
New England drives the field, going 80 yards in 14 plays, taking 7:40 off the clock and the Patriots score on a four-yard touchdown run by Lawrence Maroney on fourth-and-one from the four-yard line to take a 7-3 lead. The Patriots converted a pair of fourth downs on the drive. 

7:50 p.m.
Mike McKenzie starts as the nickel back, lines up on Randy Moss. Welcome back, Mike!

7:47 p.m.
3-0 New Orleans, 11:14 to play in the first quarter. The Saints go 8 plays, 53 yards and score on a 30-yard field goal by John Carney which bounces off the left upright and inside the goal posts. The big play on the drive was a 33 yard pass on the first play from scrimmage from Brees to Devery Henderson on a perfectly thrown ball. The Saints came up a yard short of a first down and Carney kicked the field on fourth-and-one. Good start though they would like to have finished the drive.

7:40 p.m.
Finally--football to be played. Stephen Gostkowski kicks off.

7:35 p.m.
Hurry up and wait....Haven't hit national anthem yet.

7:32 p.m.
New England wins the toss and defers their option to the second half. The Saints will get the football first. Quite a challenge laid down by Bill Belichick to put the Saints #1-ranked offense on the field first. Let's see which team makes a statement.   

7:29 p.m.
Saints taking the field,wearing black jerseys and gold pants. Pats in their whie tops with blue pants. ESPN hits the airwaves. 

7:11 p.m.
Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins start at the corners again, lining up against Randy Moss and Wes Welker--tough stuff! 

7:01 p.m.--Electric atmosphere here. Trying to walk the concourse was virtually impossible. Sardines.  

6:40 - Patriots inactives: WR/QB Julian Edelman (emergency quarterback), cornerback Kyle Arrington, defensive tackle Ron Brace, offensive guard Rich Ohrnberger, linebacker Junior Seau, cornerback Shawn Springs, running back Fred Taylor and left tackle Sebastian Vollmerand.

Springs misses his third straight game in what may be a demotion rather than an injury concern. Vollmerand has started since Light was injured in Week 5.

6:34 - Among the Patriots returning from injury tonight are left tackle Matt Light, right guard Steven Neal and running back Sammy Morris. The two lineman, especially Light, will make getting pressure on Tom Brady with just the front four much more difficult for the Saints. The matchup of Will Smith versus Light will be a good one. The return of Morris adds some power to the Patriots' rushing attack. Look for Morris, Lawrence Maroney and for LSU star Kevin Faulk to see touches in and out of the backfield for New England tonight.

6:23 - Other Saints inactives: linebacker Jonathan Casillas, fullback Kyle Eckel, kicker Garrett Hartley, wide receiver Lance Moore and defensive tackle DeMario Pressley.

Both Mike McKenzie and Chris McAlister will be thrown into the fire for New Orleans tonight. Both signed in the last two weeks, the veteran cornerbacks will make their first appearance of the 2009 season.

The offense will miss both Bush and Moore as options in the short passing game, so expected tight ends Jeremy Shockey and former Patriot David Thomas to see more looks from Drew Brees.

6:23 p.m. - Although the full list of Saints inactives has not been released, running back Reggie Bush and starting cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer will all be inactive tonight.

Porter was expected, but Bush and Greer missing another week is a bit of a surprise.

THE RUNDOWN: New Orleans (10-0) looks to make a statement on Monday Night Football while also keeping ahead of Minnesota in the race for homefield advantage in the NFC. New England (7-3) looks for a signature win for this season after the tough loss to the league's other unbeaten team, the 11-0 Indianapolis Colts. The Saints have done well on Monday night under head coach Sean Payton. Will that trend continue tonight?

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