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There was a lot of confusion regarding the Saints calling a timeout at the end of the 1st half against the Broncos. Any player on the field can call for a timeout. Other than that, only the Head Coach can call a timeout from the sideline.
Initially D.A. said he didn't know who called the last timeout. Then he later said Klint Kubiak called the timeout. He followed that up with saying that KK got a little excited, but they spoke about it, indicating that it wouldn't happen again.
My first thoughts about this are how did the Officials make the blunder in the first place? It cuts a little deeper when just the week before Abrams was begging for a timeout but couldn't get one.
What game are the Refs watching? More concerning is what is the coaching staff thinking?
Recap of End of 1st Half Sequence:
After a Lutz FG to extend the Broncos lead to 16-3, he kicks off for a Touchback and the Saints get the ball at their own 30-yard line with 16 seconds and 2 timeouts left in the 1st half. Never mind the extended discussion it would take of why the Saints wasted their 1st timeout earlier. Skip. Move On. On First Down Rattler throws complete to Kamara who is taken down for a 1-yard gain. The Saints call their 2nd timeout. 2nd and 9 at their own 31-yard line. Rattler throws complete to Kamara for a 5-yard gain to the Saints 36-yard line. The Mystery Timeout Is Called. It's 3rd and 4 with 4 seconds remaining in the 1st half. Rattler kneels out the half and the Saints are booed as they leave the field.
Keep in mind that the Saints were only down by 10 points prior to that, having just scored their only points on a Grupe FG with 1:57 remaining in the half. On what could have turned the momentum in the game, the HB dropped what should have been the easiest interception of his life near the Saints 30-yard line. Had he hung on to the ball it's reasonable to think he could have returned it to somewhere around the 40-yard line or possibly near midfield or further. The Saints would have had a golden opportunity to cut the lead to 7 or even 3 at that point. Instead, they allowed the Broncos to drive down the field chewing up the clock before Lutz came on to nail a 52-yard FG.
With what little momentum the Saints had going the air just got let out of the balloon. The Saints are now down 13 points, at least 2 TDs to take the lead, or a TD and 2 FGs just to tie the game up, assuming Denver doesn't score again.
We have seen against all odds plays happen with limited time on the clock. Unfortunately, the Saints tend to find themselves on the wrong side of those. Less than 3 weeks prior the Saints found a way to lose against the Failcons. Another example is "13 Seconds" as it has been dubbed. That's the amount of time it took for Mahomes to march the Chiefs 44 yards on two plays to set up Harrison Butker for a chance at a game tying 49-yard FG, which he made to send the game into OT. This was a playoff game against the Bills on January 23rd, 2022. The Chiefs went on to win that game in OT. The Bills never touched the ball in the OT period. Sometimes one or two plays is all it takes.
Whether these things happened 3 weeks ago or 33 months ago, those are recent examples. What they should have learned from these recent examples is it is only possible if you actually try. You have to make it happen.
The Saints found themselves in a tough spot at that very moment. They were riding a 4-game winning streak, decimated by injuries, getting their butts handed to them by their former coach in a still close game, getting the ball to start the second half, on a night they were honoring the greatest player in franchise history with a Hall of Fame team induction ceremony just moments away. Instead of trying to make something amazing happen, they decided to "regroup".
What could the Saints have done differently? With 16 seconds and 2 timeouts starting on the 30 yard line the Saints needed to gain at least 25 yards get the ball to the Broncos 45-yard line to set Grupe up for a 62 yard attempt, something he has said is within his range to make. Gaining 30 yards would have placed the ball at the Broncos 40-yard line setting Grupe up for a 57 yard FG attempt. Anything more would have been gravy. Keep in mind that Grupe has made all of his FG attempts this season, including 2 from 50+ yards out, one being a 57 yarder. He's been a perfect 11 for `11 in 2024. A score of any kind before half would have energized the crowd and possibly the team.
Instead of wasting the first 2 plays with short dumps to Kamara that had no chance of any significant gain, the Saints could have used Rattlers strong arm to heave a few balls down the sideline hoping for a completion or an interference penalty call. Tipton is supposed to have exceptional straight-line speed. Forget any type of route. Maybe they forgot Carr telling Rashid to "Run Sheed Run" just last year. The Saints elevated Equanimous St. Brown from the practice squad and made him a gameday active. He's 6' 5" tall. Maybe he comes down with a 50/50 jump ball. He didn't see the field for a single offensive snap in the game. Dallin Holker has been active the past 3 weeks on gameday. He saw 5 snaps against KC and 5 snaps against TB. He didn't get a target much less a reception in either game. He didn't get a single offensive snap against the Broncos. You can't expect the same receiver to run a go route 3 times in a row, but the Saints could have lined up Tipton, St. Brown, and Holker, in any order, with a chance to make something happen on any of those 3 plays to put the team in a position to score again before the half ended. They didn't even try.
Had they done so, especially if successful, the crowd would have appreciated them making the effort much more than just looking inept. We have a member here with a former player quote that goes something like "If all I have is a one in a million chance then at least I have a chance." The Saints didn't even give themselves a chance whatsoever in the final sequence of plays. If they weren't going to try something with a chance, why not just take a knee to begin with.
What stands out to me the most is that they don't recognize that. Instead, the focus was placed on what was deemed as an inadvertent timeout with 4 seconds left in the half, not the sequence of plays with 14 seconds and 2 timeouts remaining. Even the local media got caught up in the oddity of the final moments of the first half. Instead of questioning why they weren't trying to steal some points in that situation, nobody even asked.
Maybe nobody asked because there were so many other atrocious plays and moments in the game. That's certainly true. Lady Luck won't go out on a date with you unless you ask. Sometimes you have to create your own luck.
For anyone thinking that the downside to that would have been a possible interception, I'm pretty sure SP would have taken a knee with just a few seconds, if any, left at that point. Anyone thinking that an interception there would have hurt Rattlers confidence doesn't understand the self-confidence he has and the fighter within him to actually try to make something out of nothing. You'll probably never see him hang his head after an Int and he damn sure won't cry!
Questions
Would you have liked for the Saints to have made an all-out effort at the end of the 1st half to possibly manufacture some points?
Would you have preferred for the Saints to have taken a knee on 1st down to end the half?
Were you satisfied with the sequence of plays the Saints ran to end the 1st half?
Would you have preferred the Saints take a knee on 1st down, run out the clock to end the 1st half, forfeited the remainder of the game after honoring Drew, sending the fans home on a high note, while also saving Adebo and Saldiveri from injuries?
Initially D.A. said he didn't know who called the last timeout. Then he later said Klint Kubiak called the timeout. He followed that up with saying that KK got a little excited, but they spoke about it, indicating that it wouldn't happen again.
My first thoughts about this are how did the Officials make the blunder in the first place? It cuts a little deeper when just the week before Abrams was begging for a timeout but couldn't get one.
What game are the Refs watching? More concerning is what is the coaching staff thinking?
Recap of End of 1st Half Sequence:
After a Lutz FG to extend the Broncos lead to 16-3, he kicks off for a Touchback and the Saints get the ball at their own 30-yard line with 16 seconds and 2 timeouts left in the 1st half. Never mind the extended discussion it would take of why the Saints wasted their 1st timeout earlier. Skip. Move On. On First Down Rattler throws complete to Kamara who is taken down for a 1-yard gain. The Saints call their 2nd timeout. 2nd and 9 at their own 31-yard line. Rattler throws complete to Kamara for a 5-yard gain to the Saints 36-yard line. The Mystery Timeout Is Called. It's 3rd and 4 with 4 seconds remaining in the 1st half. Rattler kneels out the half and the Saints are booed as they leave the field.
Keep in mind that the Saints were only down by 10 points prior to that, having just scored their only points on a Grupe FG with 1:57 remaining in the half. On what could have turned the momentum in the game, the HB dropped what should have been the easiest interception of his life near the Saints 30-yard line. Had he hung on to the ball it's reasonable to think he could have returned it to somewhere around the 40-yard line or possibly near midfield or further. The Saints would have had a golden opportunity to cut the lead to 7 or even 3 at that point. Instead, they allowed the Broncos to drive down the field chewing up the clock before Lutz came on to nail a 52-yard FG.
With what little momentum the Saints had going the air just got let out of the balloon. The Saints are now down 13 points, at least 2 TDs to take the lead, or a TD and 2 FGs just to tie the game up, assuming Denver doesn't score again.
We have seen against all odds plays happen with limited time on the clock. Unfortunately, the Saints tend to find themselves on the wrong side of those. Less than 3 weeks prior the Saints found a way to lose against the Failcons. Another example is "13 Seconds" as it has been dubbed. That's the amount of time it took for Mahomes to march the Chiefs 44 yards on two plays to set up Harrison Butker for a chance at a game tying 49-yard FG, which he made to send the game into OT. This was a playoff game against the Bills on January 23rd, 2022. The Chiefs went on to win that game in OT. The Bills never touched the ball in the OT period. Sometimes one or two plays is all it takes.
Whether these things happened 3 weeks ago or 33 months ago, those are recent examples. What they should have learned from these recent examples is it is only possible if you actually try. You have to make it happen.
The Saints found themselves in a tough spot at that very moment. They were riding a 4-game winning streak, decimated by injuries, getting their butts handed to them by their former coach in a still close game, getting the ball to start the second half, on a night they were honoring the greatest player in franchise history with a Hall of Fame team induction ceremony just moments away. Instead of trying to make something amazing happen, they decided to "regroup".
What could the Saints have done differently? With 16 seconds and 2 timeouts starting on the 30 yard line the Saints needed to gain at least 25 yards get the ball to the Broncos 45-yard line to set Grupe up for a 62 yard attempt, something he has said is within his range to make. Gaining 30 yards would have placed the ball at the Broncos 40-yard line setting Grupe up for a 57 yard FG attempt. Anything more would have been gravy. Keep in mind that Grupe has made all of his FG attempts this season, including 2 from 50+ yards out, one being a 57 yarder. He's been a perfect 11 for `11 in 2024. A score of any kind before half would have energized the crowd and possibly the team.
Instead of wasting the first 2 plays with short dumps to Kamara that had no chance of any significant gain, the Saints could have used Rattlers strong arm to heave a few balls down the sideline hoping for a completion or an interference penalty call. Tipton is supposed to have exceptional straight-line speed. Forget any type of route. Maybe they forgot Carr telling Rashid to "Run Sheed Run" just last year. The Saints elevated Equanimous St. Brown from the practice squad and made him a gameday active. He's 6' 5" tall. Maybe he comes down with a 50/50 jump ball. He didn't see the field for a single offensive snap in the game. Dallin Holker has been active the past 3 weeks on gameday. He saw 5 snaps against KC and 5 snaps against TB. He didn't get a target much less a reception in either game. He didn't get a single offensive snap against the Broncos. You can't expect the same receiver to run a go route 3 times in a row, but the Saints could have lined up Tipton, St. Brown, and Holker, in any order, with a chance to make something happen on any of those 3 plays to put the team in a position to score again before the half ended. They didn't even try.
Had they done so, especially if successful, the crowd would have appreciated them making the effort much more than just looking inept. We have a member here with a former player quote that goes something like "If all I have is a one in a million chance then at least I have a chance." The Saints didn't even give themselves a chance whatsoever in the final sequence of plays. If they weren't going to try something with a chance, why not just take a knee to begin with.
What stands out to me the most is that they don't recognize that. Instead, the focus was placed on what was deemed as an inadvertent timeout with 4 seconds left in the half, not the sequence of plays with 14 seconds and 2 timeouts remaining. Even the local media got caught up in the oddity of the final moments of the first half. Instead of questioning why they weren't trying to steal some points in that situation, nobody even asked.
Maybe nobody asked because there were so many other atrocious plays and moments in the game. That's certainly true. Lady Luck won't go out on a date with you unless you ask. Sometimes you have to create your own luck.
For anyone thinking that the downside to that would have been a possible interception, I'm pretty sure SP would have taken a knee with just a few seconds, if any, left at that point. Anyone thinking that an interception there would have hurt Rattlers confidence doesn't understand the self-confidence he has and the fighter within him to actually try to make something out of nothing. You'll probably never see him hang his head after an Int and he damn sure won't cry!
Questions
Would you have liked for the Saints to have made an all-out effort at the end of the 1st half to possibly manufacture some points?
Would you have preferred for the Saints to have taken a knee on 1st down to end the half?
Were you satisfied with the sequence of plays the Saints ran to end the 1st half?
Would you have preferred the Saints take a knee on 1st down, run out the clock to end the 1st half, forfeited the remainder of the game after honoring Drew, sending the fans home on a high note, while also saving Adebo and Saldiveri from injuries?
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