Sean Lee, the splendid linebacker, left the game early with a potential concussion.
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“Who dat?” James asked mockingly. The pair combined for 15 tackles Sunday night, and each had a sack.
The Saints won the overtime coin toss. They threatened to capsize the still-prideful ballclub, perhaps leaving it in the offseason to be carved up, its glittering pieces sold for scrap to the highest bidders. But even with New Orleans struggling, winning the Superdome was going to be a tall order for a Cowboys squad so riddled with injuries. He went 5-8 for 90 yards and connected with Terrance Williams on a 13-yard touchdown with just under 2 minutes in the game to put Dallas in a position to win it.
Back came Drew Brees and the Saints, the savvy veteran driving them forward with the most prayed-over right arm in Louisiana.
The first drive the Cowboys would hold the Saints to punt the ball, but that was negated by a Cowboys penalty for 12 men on the field on 4th down putting the Saints in field goal position where Zach Hocker would knock in a 51-yard field goal to tie the game at 10-10. The kick, though, hit the left upright and bounced back onto the field. Overtime loomed. Doom, met gloom. Despite of his injury, Brees was taking first snaps during practice in the week days. Spiller that won the game in overtime. “He’s got another plan, ‘” Brees said.
Their pass rush did improve against the Saints, at least early, with three sacks of Drew Brees. Spillerconnected on what amounted to an 80-yard pitch and catch, it looked very much like the Saints didn’t want to win this game (more on that in a second).
By contrast, the Saints benefited not only from having Brees back, but also cornerback Keenan Lewis (hip), safety Jairus Byrd (knee) and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (toe) in the lineup for the first time this season.
“We had a chance to win that game, and we let it slip through the cracks”, defensive end Jeremy Mincey said. Decent company. He also set an National Football League record Sunday night with 48 consecutive home games with a touchdown pass, and has thrown for a touchdown in 93 of his past 94 games.
“Right when the play call came out of (coach) Sean Payton’s mouth for C.J., I thought, ‘This is it. This is going the distance”, Brees said.
From someone else, that might have sounded absurd.
However, after Bailey gave Dallas a 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal, Brees seemed to warm up, driving the Saints 80 yards in 11 plays for a 7-3 lead.
But again, there is a glimmer of life in the old town yet. He’s shown glimpses of incredible talent, which the Cowboys could obviously use in a few fashion against the Saints. Well, that is until you see what distracted him.
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And how well he’s able to will determine whether the Saints will be able to salvage anything of this season after a horrid start. It’s our first win. We suspect that as Weeden becomes more comfortable he’ll use the entire field.
