The Rams took up where they left off last year and beat the Saints. This Sunday they shut the Saints offense out of the end zone and yielded only three field goals. The first half was not a very good or well played ball game and in fact this writer had the impression neither team wanted to play the game. The second half was a little better but it was penalties galore. Sports writers who cover the Saints and who tried to make the game issue all week a game of revenge, called it a rematch forgot the real story line of the game and decided on the usual clichés and hype.
The real story all week should have read: WILL THE SAINTS OFFENSE BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE RAMS DEFENSE? Everyone should know that the Saints are not so productive against the teams that are well coached on defense. In the conference championship game last year against the Rams, the Saints could only manage less than 50 yards rushing. And Sunday the Rams defense was not about to let Kamara run loose and held the Saints rushing yards to 57 yards. In fact the Rams defense would not allow Michael Thomas or Kamara to make a difference. The Saints defense in the second half failed big time to stop the Rams on third and long, gave up yardage and Saints penalties just kept piling up.
So the story line for the next two Saints games with Seattle and Dallas will be the same: WILL THE SAINTS OFFENSE BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE SEATTLE AND DALLAS DEFENSE? We do know that the Saints could not handle the Dallas defense last year and could not handle Seattle's defense in previous years. That same question applies with or without Brees. We should find out soon enough what the sports writers think the big question will be.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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