Where Did the New Orleans Saints High-Scoring Offense Go?

I think it’s pretty clear to everyone that this isn’t the same New Orleans Saints team from last year.  Last year’s Super Bowl champs aired the ball out, held nothing back, and got into shootout after shootout. This year’s version of the Saints offers a team relying on their defense and using their run game. Drew Brees isn’t connecting on 30-yard passes and deep bombs to make the score 42-28. The Saints are taking what the defense gives them, and they are trying to win the possession battle and giving their defense a rest.

The Saints have won games 14-9, 25-22, and 16-14 while their lone loss was a 27-24 outcome versus the Falcons. Two games won on a last second field goal (would have been three wins if Garret Hartley didn’t miss the 29 yarder in OT against the Falcons)? Who is this team, and what did they do with the reigning Super Bowl champs? Something tells me that the Saints still have the ability to put up points at will, but they just refuse to do it. I feel that this may be the game plan by Sean Payton, not giving oppositions an opportunity to scout their offensive attack. The Saints are confident that they can win these close, low-scoring games, and they can open up the play book come playoff time.

If they are ever in trouble during a regular season game, the Saints won’t hesitate to let Brees throw the ball deep. How do I know this? Revisit the Saints victory over the 49ers; with less than 1:19 left to play, Brees was able to lead his team down the field by connecting with Marques Colston, and this led to the game winning field goal. The very next week the Saints were down three with 3:32 left before Brees led the team down the field to kick a game-tying field goal. Then in overtime, Brees was able to lead his team down to the Atlanta 11-yard line setting up Garrett Hartley with a 29-yard field goal, which he missed.

The Saints are masking their ability to air the ball deep and will be back to the gunslinging Saints in the playoffs. I’m confident in this, and if this is truly the case, then Sean Payton is a genius. Until then, we may have to live with this grind-out-the-game kind of offense by the Saints. At 3-1, and a missed field goal away from being 4-0, it seems to work for them as well. But I do admit that I do miss watching the high powered Saints offense hang up 35+ on teams.

This is just an opinion…so please Pardon My Bias.