Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo, USA TODAY Sports
Saints Depth Flexes Muscle in Convincing Win Over Bears
The New Orleans Saints entered Sunday’s road game with the Chicago Bears not only without quarterback Drew Brees, who continues to rehab a thumb injury, but also minus several other key players. Running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook would also sit out the game with ankle injuries, and the league suspended top nickel back P.J. Williams for two games. The Saints were without injured backup wideout Tre’Quan Smith and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. To make matters worse, during the Bears game, reserve defensive backs Patrick Robinson and J.T. Gray would each leave with injuries. All offseason, NFL experts regarded New Orleans to have one of the NFL’s deepest roster. With three Pro Bowlers and several key reserves sidelined, there was a major question how the team would perform against the defending NFC North champions.
New Orleans responded to this adversity with a resounding 36-25 thrashing of the Bears that wasn’t as close as the final score. Some of the Saints stars stepped up for a shorthanded squad that keyed the Saints dominating performance. Receiver Michael Thomas had 9 receptions for 131 yards against a regarded Bears secondary. Defensive end Cam Jordan had the Saints only 2 sacks and led a wave of consistent pressure on the quarterback all afternoon.
Safety Vonn Bell led the Saints in tackles, along with both forcing and recovering a big first quarter fumble. Bell’s teammates in the secondary; Marshon Lattimore, Eli Apple, and Marcus Williams, continued to play at an elite level while shutting down Chicago’s passing attack. Linebacker Demario Davis spearheaded a swarming defense that crushed the Bears running game, holding them to just 17 yards and not a single first down on the ground. The Saints offensive line made the intimidating Bears front seven invisible, making their pass rush nearly non-existent and beating them to a pulp in the second half. As impressive as the stars were on Sunday afternoon, equally impressive was the performance of New Orleans' complimentary players that stepped into larger roles in the absence of many starters.
Oct 20, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) drops back to a pass against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo, USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater played another standout game, winning his fifth straight start in relief of Brees. Bridgewater completed 23 of his 38 throws for 281 yards and 2 second half touchdowns without throwing an interception. His total would have been even higher, if not for an easy drop of another long score by Ted Ginn. Bridgewater moved around the pocket comfortably, even scrambling for two big first downs, and became more accurate as the game progressed. Three of the quarterback’s throws were hauled in by tight end Josh Hill, who took them for 43 yards and a huge 1st quarter touchdown. Hill’s biggest contribution to the offense is usually in his outstanding blocking ability, where he helped his line once again in this one. Reserve guard, Will Clapp, provide an additional assist along the line frequently as an extra lineman to add extra muscle to the team’s punishing rushing attack.
Oct 20, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Latavius Murray (28) runs against Chicago Bears free safety Eddie Jackson (39) and Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine (24) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest beneficiary to the Saints offensive power up front was running back Latavius Murray, who slashed his way to 150 total yards and two touchdowns on 32 touches. Murray picked up 89 of his 119 rushing yards and both scores in the second half, while averaging nearly five yards per carry against the 5th ranked Bears rushing defense. Utility quarterback Taysom Hill also got involved in the Saints' offensive fun, scampering for a 23-Yd. run on a third and short, then powering his way into the end zone for a third quarter touchdown catch from Bridgewater on the same drive.
Oct 20, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen (29) is tackled by New Orleans Saints defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (22) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
The Saints didn’t just show off their offensive depth, as several backup defenders also got into the act. Reserve safety J.T. Gray started the day’s scoring by blocking a Bears punt just four plays into the game for a safety. Rookie Chauncey Gardner-Johnson stepped into Williams’ spot as the Saints primary nickel back and shined. Gardner-Johnson would finish with six tackles, two pass breakups, and almost intercepted two Trubisky passes. He provided a couple key pressures on blitzes and was paramount in shutting down versatile Chicago running back Tarik Cohen as a receiver.
Oct 20, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) makes a catch against Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller (23) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
The New Orleans Saints have as much star power as anyone in the league. Brees, Thomas, Kamara, Jordan, Davis, Lattimore, etc. are among the best at their positions in the NFL. That Saints have been so dominant without not only Brees, but with some of their other banged up top talent, is a testament to how deep and competitive that this team truly is in the league. And also how much more dangerous they will be to the rest of the NFL once healthy again.
