It’s hard to know where to begin when evaluating the Saints record-setting 62-7 slaughter of the Indianapolis Colts. The contrast between the Saints crisp, nearly flawless play and the Colts lumbering inefficiency was so dramatic that it felt more like a match up between a SEC goliath and a division two squad from Northern Arkansas than a game between two recent Super Bowl champions. Nevertheless, we proceed to the grades.
Pass Offense: A +
Drew Brees was 31 for 35 for 325 yards and five touchdowns, giving him a messianic quarterback rating of 144.9. Remarkably, Brees piled up all of this offensive carnage without even playing in the fourth quarter, by which time the Saints starters had been replaced by the second team.
Marques Colston followed last week’s big game with another strong performance, catching seven passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. As usual, Jimmy Graham also flourished, snagging two short touchdown catches. Brees also found Darren Sproles for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
Pierre Thomas got loose on a 57-yard screen pass–the longest play from scrimmage of his career–and Brees spread the ball with his usual mix of screen passes and deep throws in an absolutely stunning aerial assault.
Running Game: A
The Saints piled up a season-high 236 rushing yards on 38 carries, averaging over six yards per carry. Mark Ingram ripped off 14 caries for 91 yards, including a 20-yard dash, Sproles gained 88 yards on 12 carries and Pierre Thomas rushed 10 times for 57 yards.
It was an awesome display of rushing versatility. The only downside was that Ingram limped off the field in the fourth quarter with a heel injury.
Pass Defense: A
It was widely known prior to this game that Curtis Painter–who is actually from New Orleans–was a terrible quarterback who was probably better fitted for selling used cars then throwing the slant to Reggie Wayne, however that fact was only somewhat settling considering the erratic play of the Saints pass defense this year.
On Sunday, Painter had an awful game, even by his standards, going 9 for 17 for 67 yards with a fumble and a interception, until mercifully being replaced by someone named Dan Orlovsky late in the game.
His childlike ineptness was primarily a combination of his lack of talent and the dearth of playmakers around him, but the Saints swarming defense, which recovered two fumbles and had one sack, was definitely on point, peaking when Leigh Torrence returned a Painter interception for a touchdown.
Run Defense: B
You have to be a tough grader to hand out anything less than an A after a shellacking like this one, but I’m going to knock the run defense down a notch. The Saints gave up 155 yards on the ground, 42 of which came on a long run by Delone Carter. There weren’t any huge leaks, but it did cost the team a shutout.
Special Teams: A-
Thomas Moorestead booted seven touchbacks and John Kasay made two field goals. Darren Sproles had a few average punt returns.
Coaching: A
Sitting in the press box with his foot propped up, Sean Payton knitted together a killer game plan that decimated the Colts. Assistant Coach Pete Carmichael called all the offensive plays and the Saints clearly didn’t suffer from not having their head coach on the sideline.
The Bottom Line:
62-7. Need I say more?
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