Raiders at Saints: 3 things we learned
By John Buhler
Here are the three biggest takeaways from this Week 1 game between the New Orleans Saints and the Oakland Raiders at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The Oakland Raiders stunned the New Orleans Saints in their Week 1 matchup by going for two instead of the normal point after attempt to force overtime. This was a bold move by Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio, but his team moves to 1-0 on the year with a 35-34 road victory over the Saints.
This game was likely going to go down to the wire, as the point spread only had the Saints as a one-point home favorite. As many expected, this was a fantastic barn burner as both teams combined to score 69 points.
Oakland can go back to the Bay Area feeling ecstatic about this win, while New Orleans has to wonder how the Saints let this one slip away. Here are the three biggest takeaways from this Week 1 thriller in the Big Easy.
1. Oakland fears no one.
To win by going for two instead of kicking the PAT to force overtime says everything about the 2016 Raiders: they aren’t afraid of anybody. For a franchise that hasn’t made the AFC Playoffs since 2002, this was a statement victory for the Raiders to win a difficult road game in New Orleans.
Quarterback Derek Carr only threw for one touchdown pass in this game, but that five-yarder to Seth Roberts and the two-point conversion to Michael Crabtree was enough to sink the Saints on their turf.
Yes, it helps to have a great running game and a stellar defense to lean one, but it was the passing game that won the Raiders the ball game in the end. Gambling like this in an AFC West rivalry could likely backfire, but the bold strategy worked out for the Raiders in Week 1 in the Big Easy.
2. Drew Brees is still able to put up points at an elite level.
Drew Brees is one of the very best to have ever played the quarterback position. While he is in his late 30s, he is still playing at an elite level for the Saints under center. Brees threw for 423 yards and four touchdowns by completing 28 of his 42 passes.
Even in the twilight of his prime, Brees can is able to be the cornerstone for this declining franchise on offense. He makes everybody better on offense around him. Head coach Sean Payton can draw up anything and Brees will keep on delivering.
We have to start really respecting Brees as an all-time quarterback. Few have been able to carry a franchise quite like Brees has for the Saints since the mid-2000s. Football won’t be the same when he hangs up the spikes for good.
3. The Saints defense wilted in the end…again.
It doesn’t matter how good Brees is at quarterback, the Saints defense once again caved under pressure to allow the Raiders’ Week 1 come back. New Orleans did a surprisingly respectable job of keeping Carr from completing touchdown passes, but the Saints gave up enough on the ground.
The Saints defense surrendered three rushing touchdowns including a shocking 75-yarder to Jalen Richard in the fourth quarter. New Orleans entered the fourth quarter up 24-13 and looked to be in control of this ball game.
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Instead the Saints were pummeled in the fourth quarter 22-10 to drop this winnable home game by one point 35-34. New Orleans has to get it together defensively if the Saints want any shot at reaching the NFC Playoffs this season. This loss stings.