BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS

Most Saints fans, as did I, felt there was not much chance of a win this Sunday over the Seahawks with QB Brees out with a thumb injury, and in fact was not even on the field. It was all up to back-up QB Teddy Bridgewater and coach Payton to pull this one off. Not only did they, but the Saints players on both sides showed all of us that they have the talent to be a contender even without Drew Brees. Bridgewater wanted to stay composed but emotions can often take over and in the moments before the game, they all hit him.

”I was thinking about the process from the time I was injured up until now and just thinking about all the ones who believed in me and just being back on this stage,” Bridgewater said. ”You never want to take the game for granted.’I think last year what happened, we had the playoff spot locked up. To come into a game like today that has more meaning was one of those games where your emotions are high because the game has meaning and you haven’t experienced this in a long time.”

The game started with Deonte Harris took a punt back 53 yards for a score in the first quarter, and Vonn Bell picked up Chris Carson’s third lost fumble in three games, and returned it 33 yards for a TD in the second quarter.

 Bridgewater threw a 29-yard touchdown to Kamara late in the first half on a screen pass where the talented running back bounced off several tacklers on his way to the end zone. He added a 1-yard TD toss to Michael Thomas on fourth-and-goal on the first possession of the second half, a drive kept alive by an illegal formation penalty against Seattle on a missed field goal attempt.

The two non-offensive touchdowns for New Orleans, plus Seattle’s numerous miscues took pressure off Bridgewater. He got the ball in the hands of his playmakers, Kamara mostly, and didn’t take unnecessary risks. Bridgewater completed 19 of 27 passes for 177 yards.

Kamara had nine catches for 92 yards and added another 69 yards rushing.

”He’s like a human joystick,” Bridgewater said. ”You get him the ball he’s spinning, he’s ducking, he’s bouncing off of guys.”

 

Russell Wilson threw an 8-yard TD to Tyler Lockett in the first half and ran for a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. His 2-yard TD run early in the fourth pulled Seattle within 27-14. New Orleans went three-and-out on its next drive, but Seattle couldn’t convert on fourth-and-1 deep in its own end and Kamara scored on a 1-yard plunge for the capper. Wilson also missed Lockett on a fourth-down throw in the end zone in the third quarter.

Wilson was 32 of 50 for 406 yards and added a 4-yard TD to Will Dissly on the final play of the game and t he Saints walk away with a 33 to 27 victory and are now 2 and 1.

 

New Orleans returns home after two weeks on the road and faces Dallas next Sunday.