However, two players stood out with spectacular days to keep the franchise's playoff push alive. Credit: cbs Gardner-Johnson was a factor all over the field.
He had just one tackle, but helped alter several plays in run support for teammates to make the stop. Williams leaving the game with an injury, Gardner-Johnson came up big in coverage. He broke up one throw and had a fourth quarter interception of Darnold to seal the win. Gardner-Johnson showcased the depth of one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL. He provided coverage just as smothering as Lattimore and Adebo from the slot, often allowing Darnold nowhere to go with the football.
Jordan turned in another outing worthy of All-Pro consideration. He had 3. It is the sixth time in his year career he's achieved double-digit sack totals, including fourth in the last five seasons. More than just a terror to Darnold when he dropped back to pass, Jordan was a menace to the entire Panthers offense.
He tied with Kwon Alexander for a game-high 8 tackles, which included six solo stops and three for loss. Jordan was a factor along the edge and also when he moved inside. After a quiet start to the year that drew criticism in some circles, he has 7. The Saints must now beat their biggest rival, the Atlanta Falcons, for a chance at the playoffs. These teams met once in the postseason, a Wild-Card matchup. For the Saints, it's the biggest regular season game In their game rivalry with Atlanta.
New Orleans will need some help to get to the postseason in a year full of trying obstacles. With a championship defense at all levels and some offensive players finally making plays, the Saints will be a tough matchup for anyone if they get there.
Game Day. Training Camp. Read More. Saints Fantasy Football: Point Leaders 10 hours ago. Saints Defensive Rankings in 18 hours ago. Fantasy Football. By Brendan Boylan. By John Hendrix. Unfortunately, the Saints season will go no further because of a heartless effort by the overrated Los Angeles Rams. New Orleans needed a Rams victory over San Francisco to qualify for the playoffs.
Instead, a season full of obstacles and a mountain of injuries finishes with a record and second place in the NFC South. The Saints started this game strong and never relinquished control.
They took the opening possession on a play yard drive that ended with an yard touchdown pass from Taysom Hill to TE Adam Trautman. Hill was terrific on the first three drives, leading the offense into scoring position on all three possessions. He threw for yards on 7 of 9 passing and picked up another 18 yards on the ground.
Hill left the game on the third series with a foot injury. Trevor Siemian came in to relieve the injured Hill and completed 9 of 15 passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. New Orleans contained the Falcons defensively. They recorded three sacks, caused three turnovers, and held Atlanta to just yards and 9 first downs until a meaningless touchdown drive late in the contest.
Adebo was part of a big defensive coverage outing that held top Atlanta weapons Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Pitts to a combined 3 receptions for 9 yards. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan threw for yards, with 95 of that coming on the final drive.
Smothering New Orleans coverage often left Ryan nowhere to go with the ball, despite several attempts down the field. Adebo, a rookie third-round pick, was often the target of Ryan's downfield throws. The first-year corner gave up a couple plays, but for the most part responded like a future Pro Bowler. Adebo's acrobatic one-handed interception of Ryan late in the second quarter set up a New Orleans field goal to put them up He also broke up two other throws and quickly shut down plays in front of him, finishing with five tackles.
A unit battered by injuries all season imposed its will on the Falcons defense on Sunday. Elite RT Ryan Ramczyk finally returned after missing seven games and had a dominant outing.
New Orleans dictated the pace of the game, holding the ball for 71 plays and converting 8 of 16 third down chances. The Saints picked up yards on the ground, averaging over 4.
Their offensive line not only had terrific push at the point attack, but opened up crucial cutback lanes for their runners. The line also provided exemplary protection for their quarterbacks.
Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian did not get sacked and often had plenty of time from the pocket. Atlanta wasn't even able to record an official quarterback hit on 27 dropbacks by New Orleans passers.
The Saints recorded three sacks and 9 QB hits on Ryan.
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