Football - or any sport - can be more than just entertainment if you consider it to be a metaphor for life. The goal of winning can be compared to the goal of winning in life. The reality of losing can be compared to losing in life.
When Saints Coach Kellen Moore decided to go for 2 points and the win in overtime instead of settling for the almost automatic chance of kicking an extra point and tying the game again - he was making a type of decision many people have to make in their daily lives. The basic question is: “Do you settle for the sure thing that doesn’t get you ahead - or do you go for the tougher decision that would lead to a victory.”
Some may think this is a silly waste of time or adding too much meaning to a game - but I argue that human nature and the psychology of outcomes in a sporting event parallel real life - whether you’re the executive overseeing a team of employees, an account executive that views every sales presentation as a win or a loss, or anyone in the business world who faces decisions about settling for the status quo or accepting the responsibility for making an ambitious decision that yields great rewards while it possesses the possibility of defeat.
Even though the decision to go for 2 points during overtime in the opening game of the season for the Saints, I think it was the right decision. The Saints were on the road - the defense was getting tired - the Saints offense was moving the ball and with momentum on their side - there was reason to believe the Saints would score and win - rather than tie the game. I’m not sure about the play calling but that’s something that is always discussed if a play doesn’t work. The Saints primary target was a receiver out in the flat along the goal line - but the Lions took that away with excellent coverage. The second option was to hit a receiver in the corner of the end zone - who was well covered too. Was there not a good misdirection play or an alternative to the predictable call? The play call on the 2-point play in overtime was very predictable and the Lions had to know what was coming.
The other thing about being bold enough to go for a win instead of settling for a tie is that you have to be bold and the Saints - played it safe. Here you had the Saints doing the boldest thing by going for 2 - but they called a predictable play that wasn’t bold. The reason the Saints hired Kellen Moore was because he was a superior play-caller as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles the year they won the Super Bowl. But one thing that was missing last year was the offensive brilliance Moore brought to the Eagles.
Saints Slow Start
For years I have talked about the Saints habit of opening games with a tepid attitude. I was hoping this attitude would have changed under Kellen Moore - but it obviously has not changed. With so much promise for the new season - even with national experts - the Saints came out like the opening game against the Lions in Detroit really didn’t matter. QB Tyler Shough inspired an out-of-sync offense that looked like players playing together for the first time. Maybe Shough and the starters should have played in the final preseason game because it looked like to team wasn’t prepared.
The lack of mental toughness at the beginning of games for the past few seasons for the Saints seems to have become infectious with each new generation of the Saints suffering the same mental block. And this mental block at the beginning of games has now officially carried over to the Kellen Moore regime.
Whether the Saints are on the road or in the Caesars Superdome - they almost always appear to be apathetic and a team just going through the motions until - maybe - something happens to spark them up. NO! It is the Saints play that should spark them up from the beginning of every game. We all see other teams do it - but not the Saints.
Having said that - I applaud the Saints for not giving up and for making an incredible comeback and almost pulling off possibly the greatest comeback in Saints history. Had the Saints started with more energy and more insync - the effort toward the end of the 3rd quarter on would have led to a solid victory in regular play. I worry about this lack of commitment in the beginning of games and I am most worried about the fact that it’s not being adequately addressed. If not addressed then the Saints can never expect to be a serious playoff team in the NFL.
Bad Call:
Yes - the Saints were robbed AGAIN! This is getting f***ing old. In the 2nd quarter - the Lions faced a 3rd and 16 against the Saints defense and with Jared Goff back to pass - Chase Young hit Goff - and the ball went backwards. The Saints picked up the ball and it was a scoop & score - that would have made the score 7-7. But the officials ruled that Goff’s hand was moving forward. It was clear that even if Goff’s hand was moving forward - it was a lateral since the ball went backwards making it a free ball. The officials came up with their judgment - but it was wrong. On The Point After show on WWL after the game - Bobby Hebert made the comment that the officials ruled in favor of the team from a major market and that the Saints continue to be discriminated against because the team is in a relatively smaller market. Bobby is right.
Since there appears to be discrimination against the Saints because the New Orleans market is not as important as major markets - the Saints will always have to play harder so that even in those moments when the officials instinctively favor a team from a bigger market - the Saints will win because they played so well that the unfair calls against them will have no impact on the final score.
And the final lesson to learn from using the game yesterday as a metaphor for life is: LIFE ISN’T FAIR. You have to be so good that you can overcome the moments when life isn’t fair.
