By : Sabri Haidar
(Photo/ The Mojo Network)
The Saints had a brief flash of offensive brilliance Sunday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough to avoid another tough loss. Despite a strong defensive effort and a highlight touchdown from Taysom Hill, New Orleans fell to the New England Patriots 25-19 at the Caesars Superdome, dropping to 1-5 on the season.
The moment of perfection came midway through the second quarter when Hill entered the game at the Patriots’ 1-yard line. On his first snap, he took the direct snap and powered around the right side for a touchdown, with several teammates already raising their hands in celebration before he crossed the goal line. It was the Saints’ only touchdown of the day and briefly cut the deficit to 14-13.
“It was a perfect look, exactly how we practiced it,” tight end Foster Moreau said. “Once Taysom gets into open space, it’s impossible to stop him. You can only slow it down.”
Those moments, however, have been rare for a Saints offense still searching for rhythm. The team’s red zone touchdown efficiency fell to 42.1 percent and 29th in the NFL, as they were forced to settle for four Blake Grupe field goals. Grupe was perfect on the day, a welcome sign after early-season struggles, but the Saints’ inability to finish drives proved costly.
Head coach Kellen Moore acknowledged the missed chances after the game, emphasizing how slim the margins are in the NFL. “They’ve got good players, we’ve got good players,” Moore said. “It’s about taking advantage of opportunities. We’re knocking on the door, but we’re not opening it.”
Spencer Rattler gave the Saints an early spark with a 53-yard completion to Chris Olave on the opening drive, matching the longest catch of Olave’s career. But the offense stalled soon after, settling for a field goal and setting the tone for the afternoon.
“After that play, we thought we were about to roll,” Rattler said. “You hate to end up with three points there. After a big play like that, you have to finish the drive.”
New Orleans’ miscues added up. A 23-yard gain to Devaughn Vele that would’ve set up first-and-goal was wiped out by a holding penalty. A third-down pass bounced off Olave’s hands in the end zone. Later, Juwan Johnson’s fumble at midfield ended the Saints’ final real chance at a comeback after a successful Patriots challenge overturned the ruling on the field.
Despite the missed opportunities, Rattler praised his top receiver, who caught six passes for 98 yards. “I’m not worried about Chris,” Rattler said. “He’s one of our best guys, and we’re going to keep getting him the ball.”
As the Saints trudged off the field, the frustration was evident. Another close game, another week of missed chances. “Obviously there were opportunities,” Moore said. “Everyone can feel that. We had our chances in this game, we just didn’t get it done.”