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The liveliest quarter in New Orleans is the first
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Column by RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/nwsltr/sports/fromthe50/stories/102109dnspoinsidenfl.23540dcd2.html
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Column by RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
More...The New Orleans Saints are adopting the blueprint of the 2007 New England Patriots. Bludgeon your foe early. Get on top, stay on top, stay unbeaten.
The Saints are 5-0 and have not trailed. New Orleans has scored on its opening possession in each of its first five games with four touchdowns and a field goal.
The Patriots scored on their opening possession in eight consecutive games to open the 2007 season before the Colts finally forced an opening-possession punt in Game 9. Because of those fast starts, the Patriots trailed only 18 of a possible 480 minutes through the first eight games.
Early leads are helping the New Orleans Saints defense stop opponents' running attacks.
New England wound up scoring on its first possession 13 times (nine touchdowns, four field goals) on the way to the only 16-0 regular season in NFL history. The Patriots were at their dominating best in first quarters of games, outscoring the opposition 134-41. They went on to set an NFL scoring record with 589 points.
That put opponents in a bind. To compete with the Patriots, you needed to score with the Patriots. That meant matching them point for point. Fall behind by two scores early, and the game was over.
That’s what happened to the Giants last Sunday in New Orleans. The Saints lead the NFL in scoring with 192 points. At that pace, New Orleans will set the NFL single-season record with 614 points. So you have to match the Saints point for point to stay in the game...
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/nwsltr/sports/fromthe50/stories/102109dnspoinsidenfl.23540dcd2.html