The New Orleans Saints were finally able to get some of their best playmakers back on the field, at just the right time.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas missed nine games this season, and had been on the injured reserve for the final three weeks, as had Deonte Harris. Running back Alvin Kamara was out for the regular season finale because of COVID-19. And, of course, quarterback Drew Brees missed four games with injury.
All four of those players were able to suit up together for the wild card round, and all four proved important.
Drew Brees was an efficient 28-39 (71.8%) for 265 yards with two touchdowns; and, surprisingly, his most productive target was Harris.
“He wasn't the guy I thought would go off,” WWL Saints color analyst Deuce McAllister said. “I thought it would be a guy like Emmanuel Sanders, but Deonte, you can just see his speed. They were getting him the football a lot of times.
“The thing that you see with him is his speed and his separation,” McAllister continued. “He was running those deep outs. He was able to run a couple of those screens. Get him the football, and he's making plays. And he made them today.”
Harris led the team with 7 receptions for 83 yards, easily a career-high for the second year pro. And Thomas was right behind him with 5 catches for 73 yards and 1 touchdown.
“You didn't want to throw [Mike] immediately in there because he was coming off of the ankle,” McAllister said. “I thought they would sprinkle him in there. They got him going really early into the game. The first play for him was a deep out, and then you see him run the second window slant route and then just over the middle a couple times. He was just making plays for you.”
Kamara was fairly limited in the receiving game – just 2 catches for 17 yards – but he powered the running game with 99 yards and a touchdown.
“That was Alvin,” McAllister said. “Being explosive, making plays, planting his foot [and] getting north. Hopefully for him, having another week, you get the final rust off of both of those guys; and they can be explosive for you next week.”
