So much for the #1 defense in the NFL.
I don’t think anyone expected the Texans to shut down the Saints. Those of us who don’t need to be checked in to a mental facility knew that the Houston defense had thus far benefited from some terrible-to-average-at-best offenses. So, I’ll just say what I’ve been saying all along – the adjustment to Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense is, and will continue to be a work in progress. Just like I did not overreact to two wins over below average teams, I’m not going to jump off a ledge over a loss to a great team like the Saints like an EMBARRASSING number of Texans fans are.
While the defense held its own for the majority of the game, their “grip” on the lead was tenuous at best. It wasn’t difficult to see coming, really. I’m not quite sure why it took as long as it did for Sean Payton to go into “offensive desperation mode,” but once the Saints did that, it was pretty much automatic offense for New Orleans.
When you have as much scar tissue as I do, with many, many years of Texan and Oiler fandom in the bank – you tend to see bad things coming before they actually happen. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that the Texans were playing a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the Saints. It’s a setback for the Texans, who now sit at 2-1, but it wasn’t a division, or even a conference game. It’s just a loss, that’s it. Sure, they had a chance to make a big statement to the rest of the NFL, but it didn’t work out, and they’ll have another shot to show up big against the Steelers next week.
I have a lot more to say about this game, but I’m going to take a page out of Stephanie Stradley’s book. There’s not much use in doing an in-depth report right after a painful loss like this. I’ll let it sit, and hit you all up later. For now – reaction.
Sep 25, 2011 at 19:23:20
Yep, yep, and yep.
Kinda crazy how many people want to fire everyone…..highs and lows. CAN’T wait till the radio shows tomorrow……may just have to go all national/XM.
I’m hoping the whole plug and play RB is put to rest however. Tate, while is a quality RB, is NOT to the level AF was at last year. Dude is special, and puts the rock in the endzone. Hope we get him back for the PIT game, and he stays healthy for the duration.
Sep 25, 2011 at 20:34:22
Like I said many times on here before the season, arguing with countless Texans fans….Kareem Is Garbage at BEST…I hope all the people who said “give Kareem a Chance” saw how f-n terrible he is..again AND again AND again, the Saints ABUSED his ass…It was soo fustrating to watch him today gettin burnt by receivers up and across the field….The guy is outright garbage…yea he’s not the sole reason why we lost, but it pretty clear he’s top 2 on the list if not #1…I dont wanna hear anymore ish about giving Kareem some time to adjust…his fundamentals and speed is atrocious and should NOT be starting PERIOD!!!
Sep 25, 2011 at 21:34:39
Hey haven’t been here in a season or so……………but this game was depressing….
Sep 25, 2011 at 22:16:09
Look, its hard for ANY team to hold onto ANY lead in Southern Louzianna against Drew Brees and the Saints offense! We straight up ran into a buzz-saw in the fourth quarter. The Dome was rockin, and Brees did what he does best. Tough loss, but it could have been much worse.
Sep 26, 2011 at 00:18:09
The legit fear/gripe/bitch is that the collapse was predictable, which many fear signals more of the same failed model. Not good enough to compensate a not-there-yet defense & QB that tightens up. A lot
Sep 26, 2011 at 06:41:39
Maybe this is glass is half full, but I’m willing to hypothesize that we have a secret weapon in our history of collapse.
Despite being up 26-17 in the second half, it took way too long for the saints to get motivated and crank it up.
It’s weird to imagine, but one of these days, we’ll get a good lead, and…wait for it…NOT let it go down the stretch.
Ironic considering the context, but it’s not that weird to imagine the texans replicating the 09 saints that were underestimated all year just based on the uniforms they wore and were never taken seriously until the onside kick heard round the world in the super bowl.