The New Orleans Saints escaped Sunday's game with a 23-22 overtime victory, but a number of mistakes prevented the Black-and-Gold from putting the game away earlier.
One analyst says those mistakes could be the difference between making the playoffs and sitting at home in January.
"You got to hold on to the football," Saints radio analyst Deuce McAllister said, noting that a Jordyn Tyson fumble cost the Saints a scoring opportunity in the red zone and a Berion Brown fumble on a punt return gave Cleveland the ball inside the red zone. "If we're getting outmanned, that's one thing, but very few times are you getting outmanned across the board. You've got a good enough squad that if they do their jobs, then I think you'll be okay."
McAllister also says the Saints offense still needs to answer an important question.
"For the Saints, it's going to come down, from a physical standpoint, (to): can we take some of that pressure off of Tyler Shough?" McAllister said.
According to McAllister, taking that pressure off the Saints' quarterback starts with developing a run game. McAllister noted that the Saints took positive steps in that direction by signing Audric Estime off of waivers and giving him the ball 15 times. McAlllister says once a key back return from injured reserve, the Saints offense may take a giant leap.
"Hopefully you're close to getting your lead back back, Travis Etienne," McAllister said. "I know he's been out with a hamstring injury. He can give you a little something different in that room."
The Saints play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The winner will take first place in the NFC South.
