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| Other Week 3 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL at NE | CAR at DAL | CHI at SEA | CLE at BAL | DEN at OAK | GB at STL | IND at ARI | JAX at HOU |
| KC at PHI | MIA at SD | NO at BUF | NYG at TB | PIT at CIN | SF at MIN | TEN at NYJ | WAS at DET |
Week 3 Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 27, Buffalo Bills 7
New Orleans Saints
| QB Drew Brees, Pass: 16 - 29 - 172 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 6 - 8 - 0 |
This was a sub-par outing for Drew Brees, no question. He did just enough to keep the chains moving in the second half while letting a strong running game control the clock. Not to say he played badly; he didn't. No passing touchdowns is a rarity for this team, but also he had no interceptions. His main targets are all reliable (Bush, Colston, Shockey) but he was under pressure for most of the day and, since the ground game was basically dominating while the defense kept Buffalo off the score sheet, they didn't throw the ball as much as usual. Brees was efficient in leading his team to victory, and seemed to be just fine with the slightly different game plan. Just don't expect it to happen again too soon.
| RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 13 - 64 - 0, Rec: 3 - 17 - 0 (7 targets) |
The combination of Brees' off-day and the fact that Bush was used as the primary back in the first half meant that his receiving stats are unusually low. He was productive as a runner, averaging almost five yards per carry, and actually put up his two longest rushes (14 and 17 yards) late in the game when Pierre Thomas was getting most of the touches. He looked solid running up the middle, but the playcalling -- and the Bill's pressure on Brees -- kept him from getting the ball in open space.
| RB Pierre Thomas, Rush: 14 - 126 - 2 |
Pierre Thomas looked very good, coming in to begin the second half, after not playing in the first half at all. His first two rushes went for 32 yards and got the Saints out of their own red zone. He scored two long TD's (34, 25 yards) while punishing a small Bills front four. He hit the hole hard, but his biggest asset was his quickness in being able to burst outside and change direction when needed. Thomas was not used as a receiver, but if there was any question about who the lead back on this team should be, this effort went a long way to dispelling them.
| RB Lynell Hamilton, Rush: 5 - 24 - 1 |
Hamilton had a decent first half, including a short touchdown run, but gave way to Pierre Thomas in the second and barely saw the field. With a healthy Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, his touches look to be limited going forward.
| WR Marques Colston, Rec: 4 - 67 - 0 (7 targets) |
Colston failed to score for the first time this year, but chalk that up to an off-day for Drew Brees and the overall passing game. He was still the QB's favourite target in the clutch. Brees still found him on a few intermediate and deep routes when it mattered.
| WR Devery Henderson, Rec: 3 - 40 - 0 (5 targets) |
Devery Henderson is primarily a deep threat for the Saints. And a very good one, at that. But the Bills pressure was too much to give any of the Saints receivers time to get downfield on most plays. He was reliable when thrown to; but that wasn't very often.
| WR Robert Meachem (1 targets) |
Meachem went without a catch in this one. His only opportunity was a deep throw late in the game, but the ball was overthrown.
| WR Lance Moore |
Moore did not play. He was out due to a hamstring injury.
| TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 6 - 48 - 0 (8 targets) |
Shockey finished with the most reception of any Saint, with six. Most were short passes, but on plays that appeared to be called to get the ball in his hands as opposed to a series of dump passes. He has the confidence of his QB and showed that when the opportunity is there, he'll come up with the catch more often than not.
Buffalo Bills
| QB Trent Edwards, Pass: 20 - 35 - 156 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 13 - 0 |
There is no good to say this. Trent Edwards looked awful. Scared. Indecisive. He "took what the defense gave him", which was pitifully little. Time and again he would dish of the ball to whichever receiver was closest to him, which meant a decent completion rate, but very low yardage. And very few first downs. Even stranger was his penchant on third and long (and 4th and long, late in the game) to throw to a player well short of the first down marker, with no room to run. Edwards appeared afraid to throw deep, then was inaccurate when finally mustering the courage to try it. To be fair, he was under pressure all day, but he didn't do himself any favors. His passes, short and long, were inaccurate. Even his footwork was terrible, getting him into jams while scrambling. The Bills ran the no-huddle offense a lot, often lining up in the shotgun formation. If the Bills no-huddle offense is intended to create an offense that is bewildered as the defense, then it is an unqualified success.
| RB Fred Jackson, Rush: 18 - 71 - 0, Rec: 4 - 26 - 0 (5 targets) |
Jackson did well considering how badly the offense was sputtering overall. He played the workhorse back role this game, but being behind for most of the game limited his opportunity for yards on the ground. He was shifty and looked close to breaking away a few times, in the end his longest run was of twelve yards. His 4.2 YPC average wasn't bad, but on a day where the passing game all but disappeared, more was needed from the ground game.
| RB Xavier Omon, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0 |
Omon backed up Fred Jackson but had only one carry in the game. Expect him to become even less relevant with the impending return of Marshawn Lynch.
| WR Josh Reed, Rec: 6 - 60 - 0 (6 targets) |
Josh Reed was an impressive six-for-six on balls thrown his way. He became the primary underneath target for Edwards and so was looked to often. He obviously has the trust of his QB, as well as the ability to gain yards after the catch, so he does provide some value. Just don't expect many big plays out of him.
| WR Lee Evans, Rec: 4 - 31 - 0 (6 targets) |
Evans was used on some shorter routes, but was covered tightly so his yardage was limited. The best that can be said is that at least it was better than the goose egg that Owens put up. Unless Edwards decides to try and stretch the field, Evans line won't be looking much better anytime soon.
| WR Roscoe Parrish, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets) |
Parrish had one reception; his primary contribution was on special teams as a returner, though on this day, that didn't amount to much at all. He even fumbled one return, which gave the Saints prime field position.
| WR Terrell Owens (5 targets) |
Nada. Not even close. His streak of 185 games with at least one reception came to an end. Owens had beaten his man on a couple of long passes, but Edwards missed him by a country mile.
| TE Derek Fine, Rec: 5 - 34 - 0 (9 targets) |
Fine drew in as a starter this week due to starting TE Shawn Nelson's injury. The result was a whopping nine targets, though it seemed that each and every one of those was a check-down pass from Edwards while under pressure. To his credit, he caught the majority, but didn't do anything much after the catch. In PPR leagues, you could do worse, but don't get too excited.