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Saints-Chargers film review: Despite allowing 34 points, here's where New Orleans defense impressed in 2nd half
Nick Under hill -- Advocate
Even before the New Orleans Saints became the beneficiaries of luck late in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers, the team put some good things on film.
No, it wasn’t perfect. And the mistakes made throughout their 35-34 victory would have outweighed the positives if those numbers were flipped, but that’s how conversations unfold when your team doesn’t pull things out.
Remove the takeaways, and the numbers won’t support the argument that this was actually a solid game for the defense. New Orleans allowed 346 yards, 21 first downs and 34 points. No one is going to get excited about those figures.
But if you watch closely, you’ll see a defensive line that performed well and a secondary that made plays. Most of the issues that showed up during the first half were the result of being too conservative.
The team played some soft zones and didn’t blitz often. As a result, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers was content with taking what was there, picking apart the defense on underneath routes and in the flats. He then waited for New Orleans to make mistakes, two of which resulted in touchdowns.
MORE -- Advocate
Saints-Chargers film review: Despite allowing 34 points, here's where New Orleans defense impressed in 2nd half
Nick Under hill -- Advocate
Even before the New Orleans Saints became the beneficiaries of luck late in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers, the team put some good things on film.
No, it wasn’t perfect. And the mistakes made throughout their 35-34 victory would have outweighed the positives if those numbers were flipped, but that’s how conversations unfold when your team doesn’t pull things out.
Remove the takeaways, and the numbers won’t support the argument that this was actually a solid game for the defense. New Orleans allowed 346 yards, 21 first downs and 34 points. No one is going to get excited about those figures.
But if you watch closely, you’ll see a defensive line that performed well and a secondary that made plays. Most of the issues that showed up during the first half were the result of being too conservative.
The team played some soft zones and didn’t blitz often. As a result, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers was content with taking what was there, picking apart the defense on underneath routes and in the flats. He then waited for New Orleans to make mistakes, two of which resulted in touchdowns.
MORE -- Advocate