The Tampa Bay Bucs defeated the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, ending the Saints play offs for the fourth straight year. It was the third time both teams met this season with the Saints winning the two regular season games. But the Bucs saved their best for the game that counted the most and defeated the Saints with a defense that not only pressured Brees but gave no separation to the Saints receivers.
The Saints top receiver and record holder Michael Thomas caught ZERO passes and the Bucs defense played the Saint's receivers tight as a glove, something the Saint's are not accustomed to because there are so many poorly coached teams in the NFL. Brees' three interceptions were a key factor in the Saint's loss along with a fumble by a receiver that was recovered by the Bucs. The sports media tried to make the game a Brees vs. Brady thing but was pure myth. It was the Saints vs. the Bucs. A Saints team the sports media talked about as a Super Bowl favorite even though the Saints beat only one team this year with a winning record.
The Saints ended the season losing 3 of their last 6 games. And Brees has not played well in the last 4 play off years and the Saints as a team have not lived up to the hype of the sports media who lack objectivity in evaluating the team. They are hung up on Brees personal records and Payton's so called prolific offensive mind. but as this writer has commented on numerous times, Payton should hang up the cheat sheet, let his offensive co-ordinator call the plays and pay more attention to what is taking place on the field.
One of the hosts on "Sports Talk" a WWL radio show said the Saints were the best team in the NFL in comments a few weeks ago. A silly judgement call for a team that had beaten only one team with a winning record. Then we have a sports commentary on WWL-TV sports that during the week commented with screen displays how great the Saint's defense was in beating the Bears the previous Sunday. Never mind that the Bears were a 8 - 8 football team with a less than average quarterback and offensive team.
This writer's comment in a previous commentary dated January 5, said that no one really knew how good the Saints really are and that the play offs would tell the story. Well its history now and Sunday's game against the Bucs and their exit from the play off the previous 3 years, tells this writer that the sports media have over rated them for years because they lack being objective. As for the Brees vs. Brady hype, Brady, in his first year with the Bucs has once again taken his team farther than Brees has taken his team
The comparison of what each has done for his team in team accomplishments through their years is not even close. It is Brady, by a mile.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
