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Hey guys, I won't be able to do any sort of in-depth X&O's breakdowns this week. The travel back from Italy and other stuff has just eaten up my time, and I haven't even been able to look at the coaches' film from the Rams' game yet (I will probably do so before Sunday). But here are my observations from the previous game:

- Losing Drew Brees is devastating... emotionally. But it shouldn't be devastating to the Saints' season. This is the reason why the Saints paid Teddy Bridgewater to stay in New Orleans and not go elsewhere to compete for a starting job. I haven't had a chance to read many of the reactions to his play vs. the Rams, but I thought he performed admirably, especially early on. I saw him moving around in the pocket, finding throwing lanes, coming off of his progressions and executing on time 2nd window throws. The offense was hampered by an insane amount of drive-killing penalties, negating momentum plays and keeping points off the scoreboard. Bridgewater won't be Drew Brees, but with him and Taysom Hill on the roster, the Saints are in a better backup QB situation than 31 other teams in the league.

- Speaking of Hill, I would expect to see a lot more of him at QB this week since he will (hopefully) be less demanded at WR.

- After coming off one of the best blocking performances I've ever seen vs. the Texans, the OL completely shat the bed vs. the Rams...

(Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

By John Boyle | Seahawks.com

When the Seahawks host the Saints at CenturyLink Field Sunday, someone other than Drew Brees will be at quarterback for New Orleans, which will be an unusual sight, to say the least.

Since becoming the Saints’ starting quarterback in 2006, Brees has missed only three starts, and two of those were in Week 17 games after New Orleans had locked up playoff seeding. On Sunday, however, Brees will miss just his second game as the Saints’ quarterback due to injury, the result of a thumb injury sustained in last week’s game in Los Angeles that led to Brees having surgery on Wednesday.

Former Vikings starter Teddy Bridgewater took over for Brees last weekend after the injury and figures to be the starter, though for now Saints coach Sean Payton isn’t divulging whether Bridgewater or Taysom Hill will start, because, well, there’s not much upside to him divulging that information earlier than necessary. But regardless of who starts, it won’t be Brees, who has faced the Seahawks six times, playoffs included, since joining the Saints. ...

Full Story - Seahawks.com

By Claude Coupee GSEZ Correspondant| Girod Street Endzone

As The GOAT noted a couple of days ago, we’re back. Sunday pretty much sucked, but the first thing we have to do is resuscitate the patient, i.e., you, the fan base. You’re why we’re here.

1. 2024

That’s the year through which Sean Payton’s contract now runs. Unless Drew Brees actually plays until he’s 45, this is an indication that Payton either (1) shook down Mrs. Benson or (2) this is home now and he’s not going anywhere, new quarterback notwithstanding, and wanted to send a signal to the rest of the organization, the NFL and the fans. (And it’s not like he took a pay cut; I’m not saying he did it to be generous, but he’s beyond the point of his career where he’d be playing games with the owner and his best friend the GM.)

How glorious would it be if he came out to a press conference in the next few weeks with a giant fleur-de-****in’-lis neck tat? Epic, I tell you. ...

Full Story - Girod Street Endzone

By John Sigler | Saints Wire

As news of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees requiring surgery on his injured throwing hand makes the rounds, the reality of backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater taking over is beginning to set in. Despite a rough outing against the Los Angeles Rams where he was thrust into position to lead his team to victory against one of the NFC’s toughest teams, the quarterback has shown promise in the past.

Saints coach Sean Payton recently inked a new five-year extension that will lock him in with New Orleans through the 2026 season. The ability for Payton to game plan and bring out the best abilities in all of his players was a significant part of the thinking behind signing Bridgewater to a contract extension. His mettle will be tested on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Full Story - Saints Wire - USA Today