The Saints have faced some elite defensive units this season, but this year’s schedule hasn’t included very many top-notch running backs.
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The Saints – who have become known for both their dynamic offense and their maddening inconsistency over three years – went from scoring one total touchdown in losses to the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to tallying six of them on Sunday.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees set some undesirable personal records last week after his second poor performance in a row. It was also the first time since 2009 – Weeks 3 and 4 – that he failed to throw a touchdown pass in consecutive games. Drew Brees completed 30 of 48 passes for 355 yards, but had only one touchdown with one interception.
Johnson was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He’s been there, done that, Saints fans. And if you take away the big offensive output (49 points) versus the Rams, the Saints have averaged 16.8 points scored per game in their last four losses!
But, most importantly, Brees didn’t throw any interceptions.
But as the Cardinals have found this season, the story wasn’t going to end happy.
Let’s focus on the takeaway-giveaway department. Dennis Allen’s defense would get the ball back after a great play from Nick Fairley and Vonn Bell, who forced a fumble that Ken Crawley recovered. So the Saints have gone from plus-four in the takeaway-giveaway department to minus-five, which ranks them near the bottom of the league.
Johnson’s role began to evolve Sunday, as the Cardinals played their first game without wide receiver Michael Floyd.
“Absolutely”, Palmer said. “I think he’s, if not the best, one of the best players in this game”. Johnson has earned 100-plus scrimmage yards in all 13 games this season, only the second player in National Football League history to accomplish the feat behind Edgerrin James. He needs 255 yards receiving to join Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk as the only players to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a single season.
In 10 seasons at the helm of the New Orleans Saints, coach Sean Payton has posted a 92-64 record, with five playoff appearances, three division titles and a Lombardi Trophy.
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Arizona’s defense will be playing short-handed, as starting inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (ankle) and safety Tyvon Branch (groin) have both been placed on season-ending injured reserve.
