The Seahawks picked up where they left off after they defeated the Saints 34-7 during the regular season and gave the Saints another road loss. This time ending their season. Seattle's defense was more than dominate, they made Brees look like an average quarterback and took the Saints receivers out of the game. The Saints half way rally in the 4th quarter occured with Seattle willing to see the clock wind down.
The Saints lost 4 of their final seven games and failed to finish strong. All six losses were on the road and they never did make the necessary adjustment when playing the good defensive teams that played their receivers tight. Sports writers in New Orleans have done the fans a disservice by promoting the individual when calling Brees "prolific" and Payton an "offense genius." Well neither one lived up to that descripton. Teams win and or lose as a team. Stats are for individuals. And to think Jeff Duncan said Payton did the best coaching job ever this year.
I wrote a commentary previously how sports journalists failed to report the real story of Bountygate last year and now they failed to report the real story of what took place this year. Payton's absence last season broke the chain of continuity that is necessary for a successful organization. Having two acting head coaches split the season was a disaster and a disaster of a season followed. This year both Payton and Brees played to their own hype, failed to make the necessary adjustments, acted as if nothing happened and Brees proclaimed the Saints were a great team. Neither earned their salary.
The Saints defense played well and gave the offense multiple chances to do something but it never happened. The defense gave up a few big critical plays to Seattle but indications are they will continue to make progress next year. At least Rob Ryan had his head coach on the side lines while last years defensive coordinator did not, even though it was Payton who hired him.
Saints receiver Jimmy Graham was again a non factor in the game, did not score a touch down and as a result was not able to pound his chest, scream for about 15 seconds and dunk the football over the goal post. I always felt it was better when a player just dropped the football after scoring, went back to the bench and was happy to have helped his team.
New Orleans sports writers were wrong last season when the Saints were the only team to be without their head coach. Every thing was going to be fine because the Saints were pros, knew their jobs, knew what had to be done and they were winners. This year they projected the Saints to be the first seed and ended up being the last. And before the Seattle game injected that in the past that the #6 seed did well against the #1 seed. That hype ended on the road in Seattle. I know of no sports writer in New Orleans who is capable of being objective when evaluating the Saints.
Note: See my previous commentary: The New Orleans Saints Bountygate and the BP Oil Spill dated 9/14/12 and Sports Journalists New Orleans Style dated 9/12/12.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
