The New Orleans Saints found a way to win ugly, 24-17 in Week 9 against the Bears, and at the end of the day that's all that matters.
But it still has WWL's Bobby Hebert begging the question after a five-takeaway effort by the defense, how exactly was this game close?
Listen to Bobby Hebert's full postgame rant in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
“I still don’t know how we only won by single digits being plus-5 in the turnover margin," Hebert said. "I’m like, what? If you had told me we were plus-5 before the game I’d have told you not only are we going to beat the Bears, we’re gonna crush them.”
It was another game that followed a familiar theme. The Saints defense got run around the field in the first half, a missed 40-yarder by Cairo Santos being the only thing that prevented the traditional 17-point scoring output. From there, things changed. The defense harassed rookie Tyson Bagent a majority of the second half and forced four turnovers -- two interceptions and two fumbles -- and limited the Bears to just three points.
Over the final 17 minutes of game time, there were zero plays run by either team in Saints territory. Still, the slow starts remain problematic for New Orleans.
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“I thought, realistically, we’re gonna get right this game on our first half defense," Hebert continued. "It didn’t happen.”
There were missed opportunities on offense as well that contributed to the tighter-than-necessary final score. Kicker Blake Grupe was money from 55, but missed from 47 with a chance to put the Saints ahead by two scores in the 4th quarter. The Saints also failed to convert on 4th and inches deep in Bears territory. The result was at least six points, possibly more, left off the board in a one-score game.
In the end, though, the Saints will take wins however they can get them. The result puts them back over .500, and with losses by both the Bucs and Falcons they stand clear atop the NFC South for the first time all season.
“It doesn’t matter if you crush an opponent or you win by 1," Hebert continued. "You might not be happy with the win, but an ugly win — I always say this — is better than, man, we played awesome. How did we lose that game? I’d rather play ugly and [win.] It’ll be like, beginning of November — it’ll be beginning of December, you won’t remember what really happened. You’ll just know if you won or lost the game, so I think that’s where we’re at.”