The New Orleans Saints were stunned on the road last night against the St. Louis Rams. The final score: 27-16.
The 2013 Saints continue to surprise, and not always in a good way.
Last week it was a dominant performance at every level in the Superdome against the Carolina Panthers, who are breathing down the Saints’ neck for the top of the division.
This week, New Orleans traveled to St. Louis, heavily favored against a team that hasn’t gotten much going this year.
The Saints could have secured a playoff spot, but the contest turned into an odd echo of 2011’s “trap game,” when New Orleans last faced, and lost to, the previously winless Rams.
Brees threw his now-customary two interceptions to the Rams on Sunday night — both in the first quarter, the first on the Saints’ first offensive play of the game. St. Louis recovered an onside kick. Garrett Hartley had a field goal blocked and missed a fourth-quarter chip shot. Brees had the ball stripped for a fumble in the third quarter.
The Saints finally scored a touchdown with 11:25 to play, but failed to convert on a two-point try. They added a bit of thrill in the fourth quarter with an onside kick of their own, and some hurry-up offense, but it was too little, too late, the Rams winning 27-16.
All of New Orleans’ four losses this year have been on the road.
The Saints will travel to Charlotte next week to play the Panthers again. Carolina won Sunday, so the teams are now tied for the lead in the NFC South. The Saints will need to win that game if they hope to get a first-round bye or a home playoff game.
