Analysis: Impressions from Saints 33-27 win over the Seahawks

WHO WAS THE HOME TEAM?

Rather than fly back to New Orleans after their game with the Los Angeles Rams the head coach Sean Payton elected to have the team stay in Bellevue all week and practice at Husky Stadium. This was a stroke of genius by Payton. The Saints had just lost  All-Pro Quarterback Drew Brees to an injury and staying after from the distractions of being home gave the Saints time to regroup and refocus .

 The Saints looked like the home team on Sunday when they stopped the Seahawks offense on its first possession to start  the game and bolted to 7-0 lead on 53 yard  punt return by Deonte Harris.  The Seahawks answered with  a Russell Wilson to Tyler Lockett 8 yard td pass. The  Saints then reeled off twenty straight points for a 27-7 lead before the Seahawks started their customary late game comeback. But unlike last week  in Pittsburgh the Saints never  gave the Seahawks a chance to climb back in the game

Well, this was an usual game. So many things happened in this game that [we] just hurt ourselves. Even the coach got hurt in this one. We make mistakes, erors , the big plays the returns. The mistake in the kicking game that gives then a chance for another touchdown, It’s like a turnover. We just had s really hard time getting of our own way. Sometimes the game goes like that, and you just can’t get out of you own way, you make the mistakes that caused the problems, and you try to recover. We just didn’t get it done.”

Pete Carroll on how his team played.

SAINTS ALVIN KIMARA IS HARD TO BRING  DOWN

All-purpose back Alvin Kamara showed why he is rated one of the top running backs in the NFL. What was supposed to be a showdown between two of the NFL’s premiere running backs in Kamara and Chris Carson never materialized. Kamara was busy scoring touchdowns while Carson had another game in which a defense converted one of his fumbles to a touchdown. On Sunday Kamara caught a 29 yard touchdown pass from Bridgewater just before halftime to extend  the  Saints lead to 20-7.

Kamara then showed his  elusiveness, versatility and determination in the third quarter when he ran for 19 yards from the Saints 13 yard line and the  play was nullified due to a holding on the Saints Josh Hill. The Saint’s marched six yards backwards to their own 7 yard line.

With a first and 16 yard the at the Saints seven yard line, Bridgewater dropped back to pass and hit  Kamara for an 18 yard gain. Although the drive ended with a punt Kamara’s one yard plunge on the  Saints next series iced the game for Saints. Kamara  rushed for 69 yards on 16 carries and scored one touchdown decent numbers for any NFL running back. More impressive were Kamara’s receiving numbers 9 receptions  for 92 yards and a touchdown.


“ He just got great, great balance. You talk about it a lot, but we finally got to see it in person,” Bobby Wagner said of Kamara after Sunday’s game. “ You have definitely got to run your feet on him. He does a great job of keeping his balance, keeping his feet going. They do a great job”

Bobby Wagner on how tough it is to tackle Alvin Kamara

CHRIS CARSON FUMBLES ARE BECOMING AN ISSUE

Chris Carson has fumbled in all three of the Seahawks games.  One of his fumbles has been returned for a touchdown in the last two games.   Rashaad Penny suffered an ankle injury Friday afternoon and did not suit up for Sunday’s game against the Saints. Pete Carroll said after Sunday’s game that he believes in Carson’

What Carroll said to Carson during the game.

“To get ready to get back into the game and just do right. He’s had three remarkable, remarkable punches that have knocked the ball out. He was covering it up, and he knew, he was conscious, it was right in the right place, and it happened again. 

So, we needed to get him out of there some, just give him some time to whatever, separate from it, and then put him back in, let him play some, and just work our way back out of it. He’s been a marvelous player on this team, and he has to fix this. I can’t fix it for him, but we’ll help him, and count on him to come back and play good football for us.” 

According to Carroll Rashaad is scheduled to return to full practice this week. A  health Penny, and C.J Prosise who had a decent game ( 4 carries for 5 yards and  4 receptions for  38 yards ) should make for a competitive week at the running back position.

RUSSELL WILSON AND TYLER LOCKETT HAVE A THING GOING ON

The  Wilson and Lockett show continues to amaze this season.  Wilson was 32-50 for 406 passing yards and two touchdowns on Sunday for a quarterback rating of 102.6  .Wilson had two rushing touchdowns and 51 yards on 7 carries. There is no doubt Wilson is putting up MVP numbers with his passing and running.  His running  make Lockett had another career day with 11 receptions for 154 yards and 1 touchdown.  His 11 receptions on Sunday broke  last week’s  career record of 10 receptions in  game.

Russell Wilson looks down field for an open receiver ( Cascadiasports.net)

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