Changes the New Orleans Saints Made for a Better Week 3 Result

After relinquishing leads late in the fourth quarter in consecutive matchups to begin their season, the New Orleans Saints finally earned their first victory of 2014 over the Minnesota Vikings. Early on, New Orleans looked out of sync, leading a crippled Vikings team by only four points late in the third quarter. Then the Vikings committed a penalty that would change the course of this game and potentially the Saints’ season.

With the Saints facing 3rd-and-long, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer dialed up a defensive back blitz.

Captain Munnerlyn came barreling in from the left side of the Saints’ offensive line, connecting with Drew Brees in the backfield. Brees, refusing to go down, forced Munnerlyn to slam him recklessly into the turf. Brees, clearly irritated, jumped to his feet and shoved Minnesota’s Robert Blanton, the Vikings player he believed was responsible for the wrestling-style sack.

After a short skirmish, referees tagged Munnerlyn with a 15-yard personal foul penalty for unnecessary roughness. Brees and the Saints never looked back, using the penalty to fuel their intensity. Ramon Antonio Vargas of The Advocate relayed the message Brees told his teammates following Munnerlyn’s hit:

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After being supplexed, #saints QB Drew Brees said he told his teammates, 'All right. We gotta stick it to em.'

— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) September 21, 2014"

Brees would subsequently carve through the Vikings defense, finishing the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Marques Colston. The Saints defense would halt the Vikings offense on their following possession and never give the ball back.

The Saints defense, which allowed the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns to drive down the field for a game-tying and game-winning score, respectively, late in the fourth quarter in previous weeks, was able to get off the field quickly and leave the rest to offense.

In response to the Saints' late-game defensive stands, ESPN NFL Nation reporter Mike Triplett commented:

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The defensive performance was admittedly not perfect. The Saints did not force a turnover, and they gave up too many big plays throughout the game (three plays of 28 yards or more). However, the Saints defense tightened up every time. Minnesota made three trips inside the Saints' 22-yard line during the first 35 minutes but settled for field goals.

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In previous weeks, the Saints showed no emotional intensity and were unable to close out late-game leads. Following the Munnerlyn penalty, however, the Saints appeared seemingly unstoppable. Both the offense and defense showed a sense of urgency that had not been apparent in Weeks 1 and 2. Assuming the Saints can maintain the level intensity shown in the fourth quarter against the Vikings, this team should have no problem delivering on preseason expectations.

The Saints will square off against the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET.