By Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank | WhoDatNation.com
New Orleans Saints 34 – New York Giants 27
WELL, WHO DAT NATION!
SOMEBODY GET ME A CIGAR!
Actually, make that TWO!
Because after three straight losses, three straight weeks of frustration, and enough bad football to make a grown man question his sanity, our New Orleans Saints finally gave us something to celebrate!
SAINTS 34. GIANTS 27.
And you know what makes this even sweeter?
I PICKED THE SAINTS TO WIN!
That’s right!
After getting my predictions wrong against Atlanta and Minnesota, I stuck my neck out again and picked New Orleans to beat the Giants.
I predicted 20–17.
Okay, so I missed the score by a little.
But I got the winner right!
And after the way this season has gone, I’m taking that victory and running with it.
Now, before everybody starts planning the Super Bowl parade, we need to talk about what happened Sunday.
Because this game nearly killed me.
Down 10–0, and I Was Ready to Throw Something
Here we go again.
That’s exactly what I was thinking when the Giants jumped out to a 10–0 lead.
Jameis Winston, our former quarterback, was moving the football. The Saints couldn’t get much going offensively, and I was sitting there wondering if I’d made another ridiculous prediction.
I could already hear my friends laughing.
“Tony, when are you going to learn?”
But then something happened.
The Saints actually started making plays.
Daniel Carlson drilled a 58-yard field goal.
Then, on the ensuing kickoff, the Giants fumbled and Oscar Delp recovered the football.
Suddenly, New Orleans had an opportunity.
And with five seconds left in the first half, Tyler Shough found Bryce Lance for a two-yard touchdown.
10–10 at halftime.
Now THAT was something I hadn’t seen enough of lately.
A team that got punched in the mouth and actually punched back.
Tyler Shough Finally Gave Us Something to Smile About
Remember last week?
Ninety-six passing yards against Minnesota.
Two interceptions.
An offense that looked like it couldn’t find the end zone with a GPS.
Well, this week Tyler Shough decided he’d had enough of that nonsense.
He completed 16 of 30 passes for 144 yards, three touchdowns, and ZERO interceptions.
And he added a rushing touchdown.
FOUR TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS!
Now, 144 passing yards isn’t exactly Drew Brees territory.
But I don’t care.
You know what I care about?
Touchdowns.
Taking care of the football.
And winning.
Shough did all three.
He found Alvin Kamara for a 31-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.
Then he ran one in himself from a yard out.
And when he connected with Chris Olave for an 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Saints were suddenly ahead 34–10.
THIRTY-FOUR TO TEN!
I nearly fell out of my chair.
For the first time in weeks, I was actually enjoying watching this football team.
And then…
Well, you know what happened.
Leave It to the Saints to Make a 24-Point Lead Feel Dangerous
I swear, this team is going to be the death of me.
We’re ahead 34–10 in the fourth quarter.
Twenty-four points!
I’m thinking about lighting my victory cigar.
I’m thinking about how good it’s going to feel to write something positive.
I’m even thinking about apologizing to Kellen Moore for some of the things I’ve said about him.
And then the Giants start coming back.
Jameis Winston gets replaced by J.J. McCarthy.
And suddenly New York remembers how to play offense.
Touchdown.
Another touchdown.
Field goal.
And before I can finish yelling at my television, it’s 34–27.
SEVEN POINTS!
The Giants had gone from being completely buried to having a chance to tie the game.
And wouldn’t you know it, they got the football back.
McCarthy started marching them down the field.
I’m sitting there with my cigar, wondering whether my blood pressure medication is strong enough.
New York reached the Saints’ 14-yard line.
Fourteen yards away from potentially sending this game into overtime.
But the Saints defense finally got the stop.
And when that final pass fell incomplete?
I didn’t care how ugly the ending was.
WE WON!
The Defense Deserves Credit. But We Still Have Problems.
Let’s give credit where it’s due.
Martin Emerson Jr. intercepted two passes.
Julian Blackmon added another interception.
The Saints forced four turnovers while committing just one themselves.
And those takeaways helped change the entire game.
That’s what I’ve been asking for!
Make plays.
Create opportunities.
Give your offense a chance.
And for much of Sunday, that’s exactly what the defense did.
But here’s the part we can’t ignore.
The Giants finished with 461 total yards.
Four hundred sixty-one!
New York’s quarterbacks combined for 395 passing yards before sack adjustments.
And Malik Nabers caught 12 passes for 165 yards.
That’s not exactly a defensive masterpiece.
The Saints gave up 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and nearly let a 24-point lead disappear.
So yes, I’m happy.
But I’m not blind.
Good teams know how to finish games.
And if we’re going to turn this season around, that fourth quarter needs to be a serious topic of conversation this week.
Because you can’t expect to win many football games giving up that kind of yardage and letting teams back into games.
Still, when you force four turnovers and win on the road, you’ve earned some credit.
And today, the defense earned it.
How About That Running Game?
Here’s something else I liked.
175 rushing yards!
Remember when we couldn’t run the football against Minnesota?
Well, somebody apparently remembered that running backs are allowed to carry the ball.
Kendre Miller led the way with 70 yards on 20 carries.
Alvin Kamara added 34 yards on seven carries, and Shough chipped in another 32.
And C.J. Donaldson contributed 39 yards on six attempts.
Was it perfect?
No.
But it was a running game.
And that’s something we desperately needed.
The Saints finished with 319 total yards, compared to the Giants’ 461.
So no, we didn’t dominate statistically.
But football games aren’t won by whoever has the prettiest box score.
They’re won by whoever scores the most points.
And for once, that was us.
Gayle Benson Asked for Better. She Got a Win.
Remember what we were talking about Friday?
Gayle Benson had expressed her disappointment with the Saints’ start and visited practice to show her support for Kellen Moore.
And I asked whether heads might roll if the Saints went to New York and lost to Jameis Winston.
Well, Mrs. Benson, you got your victory.
And Coach Moore, congratulations.
You needed this one.
The players needed it.
The fans needed it.
And this entire organization needed something positive after the last three weeks.
Does one victory fix everything?
Absolutely not.
But it gives everybody a chance to stop talking about who’s getting fired and start talking about how to build on a win.
That’s a much better conversation.
And I have to give Moore credit.
His offense scored 34 points.
Shough accounted for four touchdowns.
The running game finally showed some life.
And the Saints made enough plays to win.
That’s progress.
Now let’s see if they can do it again.
Jameis, I Still Like You. But Not Today!
I’ve got to say something about our old quarterback.
Jameis Winston finished 14 of 26 for 152 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions before being replaced.
And I’ll admit, I had mixed feelings watching him.
I always liked Jameis.
He brought personality and enthusiasm to New Orleans.
But Sunday?
Sorry, Jameis.
I wanted you to lose.
And you did.
No hard feelings.
You can go back to being one of my favorite former Saints tomorrow.
But today belongs to the black and gold.
From New York to Paris — Now Don’t Waste This Momentum!
Now comes the interesting part.
The Saints are heading to France for their next game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Think about that.
A team that looked completely lost a week ago is now boarding a plane for Paris with a victory under its belt.
That’s got to feel a whole lot better than making that trip after four straight losses.
We’re 2–4.
No, that’s not a great record.
But look around the NFC South.
Carolina is 3–2.
Atlanta is 2–4.
Tampa Bay is 1–5.
We’re still in this thing!
I know. I know.
Some of y’all are rolling your eyes.
“Tony, don’t start talking playoffs after one win.”
And you’re right.
I’m not booking any postseason tickets.
But I’m also not burying a team that’s still very much within reach of the division leaders.
One victory doesn’t save a season.
But sometimes one victory is exactly what a struggling team needs to start believing again.
The Saints have a chance to build on this.
The question is whether they will.
Tony’s Final Thoughts: I’ll Take an Ugly Win Over a Beautiful Loss Every Time
Last week, I asked whether heads would roll if the Saints lost to Jameis Winston.
This week?
I’m just happy we don’t have to find out.
I predicted a Saints victory.
And for once, the boys didn’t make me look like a complete idiot.
They only made me look like a nervous wreck.
But I’ll take it.
I’ll take the four touchdowns from Shough.
I’ll take the 175 rushing yards.
I’ll take the interceptions.
I’ll take the turnovers.
And I’ll absolutely take the victory.
But I’m not forgetting that fourth quarter.
I’m not forgetting the 461 yards we allowed.
And I’m not forgetting that this team still has a whole lot of work to do.
Because here’s the difference between being a loyal Saints fan and being a fool.
A loyal fan celebrates the wins.
A fool pretends the problems disappeared.
I’m celebrating tonight. But I’m keeping my eyes open.
To Kellen Moore and the players, congratulations.
You earned this one.
Now don’t make us wait another month for the next victory.
And to Who Dat Nation?
Light that cigar.
Pour that drink.
Enjoy your Sunday night.
THE SAINTS WON A FOOTBALL GAME!
And after the last three weeks, that feels pretty damn good.
SAINTS 34. GIANTS 27.
WHO DAT!
— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank
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