“A double digit loss is huge in the NFL.”
Bobby Hebert summed it up simply after the New Orleans Saints lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27-17 on Thursday Night Football. It was the third straight double digit loss for New Orleans and the fourth of the season.
It was another disappointing offensive showing for a Saints team riddled with injuries on that side of the ball. Drops by the pass-catchers were an issue again, and Bobby Hebert specifically brought up that he was “about done with” Kenny Stills after the veteran wide out struggled. Stills had 5 targets but didn't come up with a single reception. Of course, he was not the only one struggling.
Hebert couldn't ignore Taysom Hill, who was making his first start at quarterback this season.
“It's outstanding that he can run like he runs, but he had a quarterback rating of 44.2.”
Hill rushed for 101 yards, a career-high for him and making him just the third quarterback in the NFL this year to rush for over 100 yards in a game; but passing was a different story. Hill completed just 46.3% of his passes while throwing four interceptions on his way to that 44.2 passer rating. He did have 264 yards passing with two touchdowns, though one of those touchdowns was a 70 yard catch and run after the game was already decided.
Despite the rough few weeks the Saints have had and the five straight losses, the Cajun Cannon is still feeling hopeful about the final stretch.
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Hebert said. “You might say, 'oh, what is Bobby smoking' [or] 'that's a bunch of pie in the sky.' We're 5-7 [and] got five games left. I think we're going 4-1 [the rest of the season]. But if we lose to the [New York] Jets next week, I'm calling in sick. I'm not even doing the postgame. We can't lose to the freaking Jets.
“I'm still optimistic we're going to have a strong close to the season because of who we're playing,” Hebert continued. “I think we're better than them. I think we'll get some guys who are injured back.”
After playing three games in 12 days, the Saints get a bit of a breather before their next game, on the road against the Jets on December 12.
