NEW ORLEANS — Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints went into their recreation towards the Philadelphia Eagles wanting like their No. 1 scoring offense was unstoppable.
They got here out of it feeling like they’d been dealt a actuality examine.
The Saints averaged 45.5 factors by way of their first two video games, however Sunday they misplaced 15-12.
It was the fewest factors the Saints have scored since an injured Carr and the offense had 9 in a Week 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers final season.
This time round, the Saints (2-1) knew what they have been able to doing. That is why this one stung greater than common.
“We felt like we left lots of performs on the market,” extensive receiver Rashid Shaheed mentioned. “Once you lose in that manner, you at all times sort of mirror on it. However we have to let this one go. Powerful certainly one of course, however we have to maneuver on to subsequent week.”
It was a recreation of give-and-take for Carr, who accomplished 14 of 25 passes for 162 yards and threw a landing cross to Chris Olave within the fourth quarter to go forward with two minutes left.
The Eagles responded with a landing and the Saints — who previous to the fourth quarter hadn’t trailed this season — tried to steer a desperation drive within the remaining minute. However a hurried Carr was picked off whereas forcing a throw to Shaheed as an alternative of being sacked.
“I do not actually know what occurred,” Shaheed mentioned within the quiet locker room after the sport. “It was only a poorly executed play, they usually have been capable of seal the sport. That one stings. However we all know it is a lengthy season and we have to bounce again.”
Bouncing again will probably be key for the Saints, who play on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.
“You knew adversity would occur in some unspecified time in the future,” Carr mentioned Sunday.
For him and the defensive leaders, there isn’t any discouragement.
“You are pissed since you misplaced. You are mad at that,” Carr mentioned. “You wish to win all these video games. However on the finish of the day, we performed a extremely good soccer staff.”
How will the Saints reply?
“You win a detailed recreation and it boasts confidence; you lose a detailed recreation and it’s important to go forward and dig deeper,” mentioned staff captain and defensive finish Cameron Jordan. “You need to absolutely purchase in. So it takes what it takes.”
“Purchase in” has been what the Saints preached within the first two weeks. The Saints cautioned their gamers to not take heed to the hype after a 2-0 begin. They have been additionally 2-0 final season earlier than falling again to an eventual 9-8 end.
“We will not idiot ourselves and suppose that adversity will not strike,” tight finish Foster Moreau mentioned. “Not each recreation we’ll rating 50, virtually 50, factors however we’re making an attempt … 12 factors is not ok. That is not our commonplace.”
It took solely two performs on the finish of the sport to indicate how briskly a season can take a flip. Saints defenders Marshon Lattimore and Will Harris collided whereas making an attempt to cowl a 61-yard reception by Eagles tight finish Dallas Goedert.
That play led to the Eagles’ go-ahead landing with 1:05 left.
“They made the performs when it mattered probably the most,” security Tyrann Mathieu mentioned. “You could possibly play nice protection for 55 minutes and [in] 5 minutes, it may sort of get away from you. We’ll be taught from it, it is nonetheless early. We’re nonetheless assured in what we will do.”
The Saints had virtually every part go their strategy to begin the season. The harm report was mild, the staff received off to early leads and it went the primary 10 quarters of the season with out trailing.
But it surely was clear issues would not be handed to them towards the Eagles. The Saints went into the sport with out tight finish Taysom Hill and middle Erik McCoy left three snaps into the sport with a groin harm.
They could not run the ball at will and Carr spent extra time underneath duress. In accordance with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, he was pressured on 40.7% of his dropbacks and accomplished solely 4 of 10 passes for 22 yards with an interception underneath strain.
The Saints have given different groups a possible blueprint on easy methods to cease Klint Kubiak’s offense. Now, because the Saints transfer ahead to a recreation towards a division rival, adversity will both form them or set them again.
“That was powerful,” Saints tight finish Juwan Johnson mentioned. “On the finish of the day, we have been blowing out groups, so it is actually like, when have we had that powerful recreation? So that is our powerful recreation. Clearly, you wish to pull these video games out, however this is likely one of the powerful video games that we had. This sort of corrects you in a manner. … It may be a profit or a detriment.”
