The New Orleans Saints broke into the “win” column for the first time this season Sunday, as they pounded out a 20-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
The contest was the Saints’ first home game of 2014, and they provided the raucous crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with plenty to get excited about.
New Orleans shot out of the gates with an 80-yard touchdown march on the game’s opening drive, and coach Sean Payton’s offense drove the field for another touchdown on its second possession.
After struggling heavily against the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns, the Saints defense was much-improved in Week 3. Rob Ryan’s unit kept the Vikings out of the end zone for the entire game, as New Orleans received solid play from its front seven.
On a second-quarter tackle, Saints defenders Curtis Lofton and Kenny Vaccaro knocked Minnesota starter Matt Cassel out of the game, which paved the way for rookie Teddy Bridgewater to step in.
Bridgewater gave the Saints some difficulties with his ability to run, although Ryan apparently made the necessary halftime adjustments to bottle up the mobile quarterback for most of the second half.
With New Orleans clinging to a 13-9 lead and struggling offensively, it took a controversial play to reignite the Saints offense as well as the entire team. Minnesota’s Captain Munnerlyn raced off the edge to register a sack on Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and the cornerback capped off the play with a nasty bodyslam that would’ve made WWE champion Brock Lesnar blush.
Munnerlyn drew a personal foul on the crucial third-down play, and he also drew the ire of Brees, who jumped up and began shoving Minnesota defenders. The incident brought both the Saints and the Superdome crowd back to life after the Vikings had begun to gradually seize momentum in the contest.
Moments later, Brees connected with Marques Colston for a 19-yard touchdown strike, and the Saints never looked back.
Continue reading for complete report card grades for the Saints following their big win.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/XJFKW7
via IFTTT September 21, 2014 at 07:17PM
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