WHILE AN AWFUL lot of focus this morning will be on what exactly Marques Colston was doing with the last play of the game, New Orleans Saints fans would be better off focusing on the underwhelming play of their offence in the first half, and suspect play-calling throughout.
When you’re a team that traditionally struggles on the road in the postseason, travelling to Seattle is not an easy proposition. However, with Russell Wilson struggling (9 of 18 for 103 yards) you really can’t shoot yourself in the foot the way the Saints did in the first half.
First off, there was the 17-yard punt, followed by a missed field goal — though to be fair to Shayne Graham, the holder made a mess of it — and finally the Mark Ingram fumble on his own 24-yard line that, a couple of plays later, gave the Seahawks a 13-0 lead.
Faced with a 16 point half-time deficit, New Orleans didn’t actually get on the scoreboard until two minutes into the final quarter when the Seahawks gave up a rare rushing touchdown to Khiry Robinson, followed swiftly by a two-point conversion to make it a one-score game.
Advertisement
However, despite having the ball three times after that score, the Saints failed to trouble the scoreboard operators — including another missed field goal – before Marshawn Lynch realistically ended the game as a contest.
While Colston caught a touchdown pass to bring the game within eight and recovered the ensuing onside kick, the receiver failed to step out of bounds with eight seconds left, instead attempting this lateral that was, well, terrible:
One play doesn’t decided a game though and Drew Brees throwing for just 34 yards in the first half had a far bigger impact on the result of this one than anything Colston did at the end.
Indianapolis Colts 22 @ New England Patriots 43
It’s a good thing the fantasy football season is over because there would have been a huge number of frustrated Tom Brady owners this morning given the fact that New England scored 43 points last night and their quarterback didn’t throw one of them.
Instead, the Patriots rushed 46 times (compared to 25 attempted passes, just 13 of which were completed) in miserable conditions in Foxboro. However, in the wind and rain, New England took advantage of the Colts’ 28th-ranked run defence to pound the rock with a triple threat rush attack of LeGarrette Blount, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.
Between them, the triumvirate accounted for 235 yards and six touchdowns, with Blount’s 166 yards and four scores the standout figures and his 73-yard run to kill the game in the fourth quarter an obvious highlight:
They were, however, helped by a very generous Andrew Luck who started the game with an interception that led to the Patriots’ first score and followed it up with three more as the Colts attempted to repeat last week’s miracle recovery against the Chiefs.
The Patriots aren’t as generous as Kansas City though and by dispatching of the Colts so easily, they have surelylaid down a marker for whoever they face in the AFC Championship game next weekend?
Seahawks do just enough while New England make it the Patriots' game
New Orleans Saints 15 @ Seattle Seahawks 23
WHILE AN AWFUL lot of focus this morning will be on what exactly Marques Colston was doing with the last play of the game, New Orleans Saints fans would be better off focusing on the underwhelming play of their offence in the first half, and suspect play-calling throughout.
When you’re a team that traditionally struggles on the road in the postseason, travelling to Seattle is not an easy proposition. However, with Russell Wilson struggling (9 of 18 for 103 yards) you really can’t shoot yourself in the foot the way the Saints did in the first half.
First off, there was the 17-yard punt, followed by a missed field goal — though to be fair to Shayne Graham, the holder made a mess of it — and finally the Mark Ingram fumble on his own 24-yard line that, a couple of plays later, gave the Seahawks a 13-0 lead.
Faced with a 16 point half-time deficit, New Orleans didn’t actually get on the scoreboard until two minutes into the final quarter when the Seahawks gave up a rare rushing touchdown to Khiry Robinson, followed swiftly by a two-point conversion to make it a one-score game.
However, despite having the ball three times after that score, the Saints failed to trouble the scoreboard operators — including another missed field goal – before Marshawn Lynch realistically ended the game as a contest.
While Colston caught a touchdown pass to bring the game within eight and recovered the ensuing onside kick, the receiver failed to step out of bounds with eight seconds left, instead attempting this lateral that was, well, terrible:
One play doesn’t decided a game though and Drew Brees throwing for just 34 yards in the first half had a far bigger impact on the result of this one than anything Colston did at the end.
Indianapolis Colts 22 @ New England Patriots 43
It’s a good thing the fantasy football season is over because there would have been a huge number of frustrated Tom Brady owners this morning given the fact that New England scored 43 points last night and their quarterback didn’t throw one of them.
Instead, the Patriots rushed 46 times (compared to 25 attempted passes, just 13 of which were completed) in miserable conditions in Foxboro. However, in the wind and rain, New England took advantage of the Colts’ 28th-ranked run defence to pound the rock with a triple threat rush attack of LeGarrette Blount, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.
Between them, the triumvirate accounted for 235 yards and six touchdowns, with Blount’s 166 yards and four scores the standout figures and his 73-yard run to kill the game in the fourth quarter an obvious highlight:
They were, however, helped by a very generous Andrew Luck who started the game with an interception that led to the Patriots’ first score and followed it up with three more as the Colts attempted to repeat last week’s miracle recovery against the Chiefs.
The Patriots aren’t as generous as Kansas City though and by dispatching of the Colts so easily, they have surelylaid down a marker for whoever they face in the AFC Championship game next weekend?
In this form, few would bet against them.
David Gillick on the push to make PE a core examinable subject in Irish secondary schools
‘Whether people believe it or not, professional rugby is a tough, tough sport’
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
American Football Indianapolis Colts New England Patriots NFL Redzone Seattle Seahawks US sports