It’s over.
The Saints much-vaunted 2011-2012 season came to a shocking halt last Saturday with a dramatic 36-32 lost to the San Francisco 49ers. Despite four first-half turnovers, the Saints, led by 465 passing yards from quarterback Drew Brees, took the lead twice with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter, only to allow the 49ers to score two late touchdowns for the victory. Here are our picks for this week’s saints and sinners.
Saints
Darren Sproles
When Pierre Thomas left the game due to an apparent concussion after a vicious first-quarter hit, Sproles was forced into double duty. He performed more than admirably, setting an NFL playoff record with 15 catches and compiling 119 yards. With just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Sproles caught a short pass from Brees over the middle and juked and jived with way to a 44-yard touchdown reception, putting the Saints ahead for the first time in the game.
Jimmy Graham
Despite being banged up in the first quarter, Graham delivered another stud performance on Saturday, grabbing five balls for 102 yards and two touchdowns. His 66-yard TD reception late in the fourth quarter was an epic catch and run, in which he straight-armed and scampered with his way past a horde of 49ers.
Marques Colston
Marques Colston aslo had another monster game, snagging 9 passes for 136 yards and the Saints’ first touchdown of the game. He was clutch down the stretch, helping the Saints convert on a number of key third downs.
Drew Brees
Yes, he threw two interceptions, but Brees still deserves praise for slicing the 49ers defense up for 465 yards, despite being under pressure throughout the game.
Sinners
Malcolm Jenkins + Roman Harper
I put these two together, because they both got burned consistently by Vernon Davis, who caught 7 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Neither Harper nor Jenkins could stay with Davis and they both also missed key tackles after the catch to allow Davis to pile up the yards.
Patrick Robinson
Late in the game, Robinson missed an easy interception on a tipped ball that would have given the Saints the ball deep in 49ers territory.
Courtney Roby
Roby’s fumble on a kickoff in the first quarter was a clownish-looking momentum killer. After the Saints had just given up a touchdown to the 49ers, Roby muffed the kickoff, picked it up and then fumbled it, leading to a 49ers field goal.
Greg Williams
Williams’s inability to find a defensive scheme to stop the 49ers only real deep threat, Vernon Davis, was one of the primary factors in the Saints’ loss. Williams looked to be outfoxed on numerous occasions, dialing up the wrong schemes at the wrong times.
