The New Orleans Saints eked out another nail-biter, going on the road and taking down the Chicago Bears 26-23 with a walk-off field goal in the final two minutes of overtime.
It was another game where New Orleans had to fight back from a double digit deficit, and it was the fifth straight one possession game for the Saints. Both those facts left some Saints fans grumbling, something that WWL NFL analyst Mike Detillier took umbrage with.
“Many Saints fans are spoiled,” Detillier said. “I'm old enough to remember they would lose games like this. There's a generation that doesn't remember how bad this team was. And it's hard to win in the NFL; it's difficult, especially on the road. To come out of there with an overtime win, I'll take it.”
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The Saints are now 2-0 in overtime games – they beat the Los Angeles Chargers 30-27 earlier in the season – and 4-1 in one possession games. The Saints have also, because of injuries, COVID-19, and even a suspension, found themselves short-handed.
“You've won over the past few weeks without Michael Thomas,” Detillier said. “Emmanuel Sanders has missed a couple games. Marquez Callaway was really playing well, and then he goes down with the ankle injury. You figured out a way to win.
“Nobody cares about your injuries and stuff in the NFL,” Detillier went on. “It doesn't matter to the other team that you're missing key parts. But Sean [Payton] and Drew have been able to figure out a way to win, and that's what this game is all about: putting Ws on the board.”
It has not always been pretty, but New Orleans has found ways to win. And, like Detillier said, that's what matters in the end. The Saints are 5-2 and in first place in the NFC South although Tampa Bay would move into sole possession of first with a win in Monday Night Football.
The Saints came out on top in their Week 1 match-up against the Buccaneers, and the two teams will meet again next Sunday night in a game that could go a long way in determining who wins the division.