TE Randy McMichael tries to leap out of the grasp of Saints safety Josh Bullocks

Saints Embarrassed by Rams
Secondary ignited by Bulger in 37-29 loss; Haslett's game plan works

posted November 4, 2007 - print me!
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The Saints’ 22-point fourth quarter rally fell short as the Black-and-Gold lost for the first time in the last five games, falling to the St. Louis Rams, 37-29, at the Louisiana Superdome.

“The Rams certainly played better than we did today,” said Head Coach Sean Payton after the game. “They made a lot of plays and they got into a good rhythm offensively, and conversely we fell behind and ended up losing the game. It’s disappointing, to be sure, but give the Rams credit. It’s a setback for us and it’s disappointing. We need to get back to practice and collectively we need to do a better job across the board. We weren’t good enough today. We have a tough road game this week in Houston.”

Hollis Thomas sacks Marc Bulger

RB Aaron Stecker started the festivities with a strong 13-yard gain on the Saints’ first play from scrimmage the QB Drew Brees connected with WR Marques Colston for a 12-yard completion, and then Brees and Bush hooked up for a five-yard gain. On a second and five from the St. Louis 44, Brees caught the Rams jumping offside and fired a deep pass for Colston down the middle of the field. Former Saints CB Fakhir Brown was flagged for interfering with Colston and the Saints had the ball on the STL 7, and Bush then did the rest for the Saints’ first score of the game.

“We started the game quickly with a nice drive but we weren’t able to get that feeling back until it was too late,” said Brees.

The Saints’ defense stoned RB Steven Jackson on a first down run, and then Will Smith rocketed across and dropped QB Marc Bulger for a nine-yard sack on a second down. A screen to Jackson picked up some of the yardage that the Rams lost in the sack, but the Rams were forced to punt and the Saints started their second drive at their own 29.

Rams Respond on 2nd Series; Knot Game at 7 All

Brees again went deep on second down was picked off by STL starting FS Oshiomogho Atogwe at the STL 38. “We knew we would see some heavy pressure on them there, and we got it,” Brees said. “We thought we might be able to hit something big there but the safety made a nice play.”

The Rams picked up their first down and moved into Saints’ territory on a six-yard completion from Bulger to FB Brian Leonard and then picked up 23-yards on a completion to WR Isaac Bruce. LB Brian Simmons then decked Bruce on an end around, resulting in a loss of one yard, and Jackson picked up two yards before Renaldo Wynn dropped him at the Saints’ 23. Bulger and WR Drew Bennett then connected for a 10-yard gain to the Saints’ 13. After a short run, Bulger connected on a crossing route to Bennett that took the ball to the Saints’ two yard-line and a first down run by Jackson picked up one-yard and on second down, Bulger hit Bruce for no gain on a slant as CB Jason David dropped the receiver for no gain. However on third down Jackson pounded the ball into the end zone from the one yard-line.

Left Tackle Brown Injured as Rams Turnback Saints

RB Pierre Thomas gave the crowd and the Saints a spark with a career-long 64-yard kickoff return to the STL 33 late in the first quarter. After a six-yard gain on a pass from Brees to Devery Henderson, the Saints were flagged for an intentional grounding call, which pushed them back 10 yards. On a third-and-14 from the 37, the Rams blitzed and LB Will Witherspoon dropped Brees for a seven-yard sack. On the sack, Brees fumbled but the ball was recovered by Bush at the STL 48. On the play, a pile of players rolled into LT Jammal Brown and the hulking left tackle needed to be helped off the field by the Saints’ medical staff, favoring his left leg as he exited the field.

“The X-rays on Jammal came back negative, so we will see where he is tomorrow after we look at it some more,” said Payton after the game. “Zach Strief stepped in and did a good job.”

Rams Take 14-7 Lead

The Saints then held the Rams to nine yards on their third series of the game, although the Rams challenged the spot of third down reception by TE Randy McMichael at their 29, believing that McMichael got beyond the 30 yard-line. After the video review the ball was spotted at the 30 and the Rams had a first down on the last play of the first quarter.

The Rams converted a third-and-17 with an 18-yard completion from Bulger to WR Torry Holt.

“The third down conversions were something we didn’t do really well (stopping) today,” said LB Scott Fujita. “We need to get off the field and get our offense the ball. We have to play better than that, without a doubt.”

The Rams converted their 14-play, 80-yard drive with a two-yard TD pass from Jackson to McMichael with 8:37 left in the second quarter that gave the visitors a 14-7 lead.

Tinoisamoa Pick Halts Saints Near Midfield; Rams Up Lead on FG

Brees was credited with his second interception of the afternoon when LB Pisa Tinoisamoa picked him off at midfield and return to the ball to the Saints 29. The Saints, though, stopped the Rams after three plays and forced the visitor’s to settle for 49-yard field goal by veteran place-kicker Jeff Wilkins that narrowly made it over the cross bar, but nonetheless counted for an additional 3 points, which extended their lead to 17-7 at the 5:37 mark in the second quarter. “I had my arm hit just as I was throwing the ball,” Brees said. “It’s one of those things. If my arm doesn’t get hit there, it’s a completion.”

The Saints then drove into Rams territory but were undone when a delayed handoff lost six yards and a subsequent blitz from the Rams resulted in a nine-yard loss and knocked the Saints out of field goal territory before the two minute warning. The Rams ran out the clock to end the first half with the 17-7 lead.

Second Half

40 Yard Completion from Bulger to Holt Sets Up FG and 20-7 Lead

The Rams took the opening kickoff and began their drive at their own 24 yard-line. An 11-yard completion from Bulger to Jackson started things off, and then three straight short plays, including a third-down three-yard run when they needed two yards kept the chains moving. Bruce then picked up 15 yards on a hook route and Jackson two more yards on a short completion. FS Josh Bullocks then dropped Bulger for a six-yard sack, but on a third-and-15, Bulger fired pass in-between two Saints defenders to Holt that went for 40 yards and took the ball to the Saints’ 6 yard-line. The Saints, though, held the Rams to a 21-yard field goal after 6:05 and widened their lead to 20-7.

“The Rams have a Pro Bowl quarterback and two Pro Bowl receivers in we knew that coming in,” said Fujita. “Today they got untracked, and we paid the price for it. I think a lot of the credit has to go to their offensive line. They have taken some criticism but they stepped up and played well this afternoon.”

Saints Stopped on 4th Down

The Saints started at their own 39 after a 35-yard kickoff return by Thomas. On a second-and-ten, Brees hit Bush for a seven-yard completion and then Bush picked up two more yards on a toss, which brought about a fourth-and-one from the Saints’ 47. The Saints called a timeout after Brees got to the line of scrimmage and again tried an inside handoff to Bush, but Tinoisamoa stopped Bush for a one-yard loss and the Rams took over at the Saints 46. “We only had one possession there in the third quarter and that made it harder for us,” said Brees. “It put more pressure on us and when we couldn’t pick up the fourth down, it made it really tough.”

Rams Up Lead to 27-7 in Third

The Rams capitalized on their field position and quickly picked up 18 yards on a completion from Bulger to Bruce. Two plays later Bulger hit McMichael down the seam for 17 yards, and two plays later, finished the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Bulger to Bruce that widened the Rams’ lead to 27-7 following Wilkins’ extra point.

Rams Expand Lead to 34-7 Early in Fourth Quarter

After the Saints went three and out late in the third quarter, the Rams started at their own 27. After an incompletion and a three yard run, Bulger hit Holt for a nine-yard completion and a first down to the Rams’ 39. Jackson then tried the middle for a three-yard gain and on second down Bulger hit WR Drew Bennett for 14 yards, taking the ball to the Saints’ 44. Rams RB Antonio Pittman then got around the edge and picked up 43 yards on a run to the Saints’ one on the final play of the third quarter. Two plays later, Bennett hauled in a fade pass along the sideline in the end zone, ending a nine-play drive in 4:09.

Saints Strike Back; Cut Into Lead with 8 Point Swing

The Saints, facing a 27-point deficit, got to work quickly, as they drive 74 yards in six plays. The Saints turned in big plays when Brees and Colston hooked up for 36 yards on the first play from scrimmage. Brees then connected with David Patten for 14 yards and then found Colston for 12 more yards, taking the ball to the eight yard-line. Bush then nearly found the end zone on a second down run, picking up 7 yards, and on third down Brees hit TE Billy Miller for a touchdown. It marked Miller’s first TD as a Saint. Bush then pounded up the middle for the two-point conversion and the Saints trailed 34-15 with 11:36 remaining.

In an effort to stave off the Saints’ momentum, the Rams came out swinging and connected on a 39-yard completion on a first-and-ten from the Rams’ 20. Following the completion the Saints’ defense halted the Rams’ offense and forced just their second punt of the day, although P Donnie Jones’s punt was downed at the Saints’ 4.

Brees came out firing and the Rams caught a break as Fakhir Brown and David Patten attempted to connect on a 22-yard out route. Brown was initially flagged for a pass interference, but after a discussion the officials picked up the flag. A long pass attempt for Patten on second down was incomplete, and then Brees connected with Bush for a first down on a third-and-ten for a gain of 13 yards. On the ensuing play, Colston got behind a Rams defender and appeared to make a leaping reception down the middle of the field at the Saints’ 44. The officials ruled Colston didn’t have possession of the ball as he came down, though a flag flew for a personal foul (helmet-to-helmet tackle) on the Rams’ defender. Head Coach Sean Payton challenged the ruling on the field and after a review, the call stood and the Saints were charged with their final timeout.

Saints Score Again; Margin Closes to 34-21

The Saints continued to claw their way back into the game, marching 96 yards on 11 plays in 4:10, capped off by a two-yard TD run by Stecker. The Saints’ biggest play on the drive was a 24-yard completion between Brees and Patten, while Colston also chipped in with a 16-yard completion. The Saints’ two-point conversion failed and the Saints nearly recovered the onsides kick, but the ball squirted out of bounds and the Rams took over at the Saints’ 42.

Rams Field Goal Extends Lead to 37-21

The Rams ran nearly three minutes off of the clock and inside of the two-minute warning and their lead to 37-21 on a 44-yard field goal by Wilkins with 1:55 remaining in the game.

Brees TD pass to Johnson and Bush 2-Point Conversion Close Score to Final Margin of 37-29

The Saints’ final rally covered 63 yards in seven plays in 1:23 and ended when Brees found TE Eric Johnson for a seven-yard TD. Bush then finished the scoring with a two-yard run up the middle for two points to make the score 37-29. The Saints nearly came up with the on-sides kick, but the Rams’ Dane Looker recovered the loose ball and the Rams only needed to kneel down once to run the clock out and gain their first win of the season.

Notes: Saints RB Deuce McAllister joined Scott Fujita, Drew Brees, Jeff Faine and Aaron Stecker for the coin toss, which the Saints won. McAllister, who is on injured reserve, injured his knee on September 24 against the Tennessee Titans. The Superdome crowd enthusiastically cheered “Deeeuuuuccce!” upon his announcement ... LB Brian Simmons sacked Bulger in the second quarter, it marked Simmons’ first sack as a Saint and his first since 2005 ... two Saints made their debuts: reserve TE Ronnie Ghent and DT McKinley Boykin … Jammal Brown injured his lower left leg and Payton indicated that the x-rays taken of his lower left leg were negative… the Rams held the ball for 39:42 in time of possession to the Saints’ 20:18 and they won the turnover battle, 2-0 … the Rams racked up 409 yards of total offense to the Saints’ 308 … the Rams were eight-of-13 on third downs (62%) while the Saints were four-of-eight (50%) … the Saints held Jackson to 76 yards on 22 carries, thus have extended their streak of games to 8 without allowing an individual 100-yard rusher … WR Marques Colston (8-129) had his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game … Brees finished with 25-of-36 passing for 272 yards with two touchdowns and interceptions for a passer rating of 86.8 …. Fujita, LB Mark Simoneau and Simmons tied for the team lead with eight tackle apiece … Will Smith had seven tackles and a sack (-9 yards) … Pierre Thomas had eight kickoff returns for 233 yards 929.1 avg.0 and had his career-long 64 yard return in the first quarter.

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