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January 16, 2014
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January 16, 2014
The New Orleans Saints got the rematch they wanted.
Unfortunately for them, their opponent in Saturday’s NFC Divisional Playoff Game got the elements and the environment they wanted.
It was a different, much more competitive game this time around, but the outcome was just the same as the No. 1-seeded Seattle Seahawks defeated the Saints, 23-15, on the cold, rain-soaked and windy CenturyLink Field turf.
With their win, Seattle advanced to the NFC Championship Game to meet the San Francisco 49ers in the third meeting between the two division rivals this season.
For the Saints, their season and championship hopes came to an end on the road against an opponent from the NFC West for the third time in the last four seasons.
But unlike the first meeting between these two clubs back on the first Monday night of December, the Saints remained competitive throughout Saturday’s contest against the Seahawks, even as they struggled to get much going offensively for three quarters.
New Orleans’ defense kept the game close by holding Seattle to three first-half field goals as the Seahawks struggled to pull away.
Seattle’s lone touchdown of the first half was set up by a Saints turnover deep in its own territory as Mark Ingram’s second-quarter fumble led to a quick 15-yard Marshawn Lynch score.
That touchdown, coupled with three Steven Hauschka field goals, gave the Seahawks a 16-0 halftime lead. Seattle’s defense, meanwhile, combined to hold Saints quarterback Drew Brees to less than 50 passing yards in the first half – a feat that hadn’t happened since the 2008 season.
“One of the things they do a very good job with is, they don’t do a lot,” Saints coach Sean Payton said of the Seahawks’ top-ranked defense.
“They keep the ball in front of them. They’re patient and they force you to be patient. It’s a tough defense; they have been all season long. They force you to be patient in regards to what we wanted to do, both run and pass.”
The Saints’ defense proved it was capable of making some big stops, too, forcing Seattle into three straight punts in the third quarter to keep it a two-possession game.
When Khiry Robinson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to cap a 9-play, 74-yard drive, the Saints had finally gotten on the scoreboard and it was a one-possession game following a two-point conversion that made it 16-8.
The Saints’ defense was able to force two more Jon Ryan punts, but a missed field goal from kicker Shayne Graham from 48 yards out with 3:51 to play put the ball back in the hands of Lynch.
Lynch, displaying some shades of his back-breaking touchdown run against the Saints in the 2010 playoffs, seemed to put the nail in New Orleans’ coffin with a 31-yard touchdown run that made the score 23-8 with just 2:40 to play.
The Saints still found a way to make it interesting, getting a 9-yard Brees touchdown pass to Marques Colston with 26 seconds remaining to make it a one-possession game.
New Orleans then recovered an onside kick to keep its hopes of an improbable finish alive, but when Colston caught a short pass from Brees with under 10 seconds on the game clock, the receiver attempted an ill-advised forward pass rather than step out of bound to stop the clock. Doing so would have at least given Brees enough time to attempt a throw into the end-zone from around the Seahawks’ 38-yard line.
Instead, Colston was flagged and the subsequent 10-second runoff ensured Brees never got a chance at one last heave into the end-zone.
“We had opportunities, but we weren’t able to get enough points,” Payton said. “It’s disappointing.”
All in all, it was a stronger effort than what the Saints put up against Seattle six weeks earlier.
It just wasn’t enough against what many believe is the best team in the NFC, if not the entire league.
“Obviously we played a lot better (Saturday),” said Brees, 24-of-43, 309 yards. “We still ended up on the losing side of the turnover ratio, which resulted in seven points for them that week, and it resulted in seven points (Saturday) for them. This game was much closer so that becomes a big difference.
“Then you (look at) the field goal opportunities, then the others where we were just on the outskirts of having an opportunity to kick a field goal. Every little bit of points matter because it changes the mindset and the outlook on their last drive.”
MOVING FORWARD
While missed opportunities in Saturday’s game won’t make the loss or the ending to the season as a whole any less disappointing, the Saints can find solace in knowing they won 12 games this season and have a good nucleus in place going forward.
The defense improved significantly this season under first-year defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
Likewise, Brees shows no signs of slowing down as he heads into his mid-30s.
The Saints running game also showed progression this season, particularly Ingram, a former first-round pick, and Robinson, a promising rookie.
“I was proud of how our guys fought and competed this year,” Payton said. “They found a way to win 12 games. Obviously it wasn’t enough for what we aspire to do. It’s a young team with a lot of new faces. It’s disappointing to lose in a playoff game, so close to where your final goal is, and yet I thought there were a lot of good signs from a lot of good young players and veteran players too.”
But of possible concern is the Saints’ salary cap. The team will be over the limit as free agency begins this offseason.
New Orleans Saints running back Khiry Robinson (29) celebrates after running for a 1-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. The Saints lost 23-15 in the game – a loss that ended the team’s season.
