The Saints committed too many mistakes and bloopers despite Reggie Bush's two punt returns for touchdowns and fell to the Minnesota Vikings 30-27 before a raucous sellout crowd and a national television audience on Monday night at the Superdome.
The Saints, according to veteran pressboxers, were a much better team and should have won.
The Saints (2-3) committed 11 penalties for 102 yards in addition to numerous other blunders. The most damaging penalty was a 42-yard pass interference call on safety Kevin Kaesviharn with 71 seconds left, setting up Ryan Longwell's 30-yard winning field goal.
"The disappointing thing is our turnovers (four) and our penalties," Saints coach Sean Payton told the media after ward. "That starts with me. I've got to do a better job, and the same thing goes for our coaching staff. Bush's two punt returns for touchdowns were positive things, but they were overshadowed by our mistakes. Our defense.”
Drew Brees, called the best quarterback in the NFL by several ESPN announcers, completed 26-of-46 passes for 330 yards, but was intercepted twice, once on a tipped Hail Mary pass deep in the Vikings territory in the final seconds. His lone touchdown pass went for 17 yards to Devery Henderson on the Saints' opening drive. The Saints walked through the Vikings' defense on the first drive and were set to take a lead until Martin Gramatica had his field goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown. That play turned the game around.
The loss was reminiscent of a 34-32 loss to Denver in Week 3 when Gramatica missed a 43-yard field goal attempt with 1:53 to go.
The Saints' three losses have been by a total of 10 points. When their injured players return in twp or three weeks. they can still challenge for the title. With things as they are in the powerful NFC East, a team may have to win its division to make the playoffs. Three teams from the NFC East went to the playoffs last season.
With the Saints trailing 20-10 late in the third quarter Bush returned his first punt for a 71-yard touchdown after receiving a bone-jarring bloc from reserve linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar.
Bush almost broke another punt return for a touchdown but tripped and fell at the Minnesota 49.
The Vikings' punter boomed one to Bush again and he paid for it after Bush returned it 64 yards for a touchdown.
"Great blocking by my teammates," judged Bush. "It was a huge play at a time of need. We wanted this game."
Bush was the 12th player in NFL history to return two punts for touchdowns in a game. His 176 return yards in the game set Saints record. He now has four career punt returns for touchdowns.
You had to wonder why the punter kept kicking to Bush rather than out of bounds.
"This is good a win as it gets," said Vikings coach Brad Childress, who desperately need a win.. "I don't know if I've ever been in one that went that way."
"It's probably one of the weirdest games I've ever been involved in," said Brees. "It went back and forth. I'm trying to digest it all right now, but at the end it's a loss. That's extremely disappointing, especially when once again we have a chance to win it at the end."
Brees and Payton believe they can win a game even if they are 21 points down in the third quarter with their passing offense.
"We've got to start playing smarter," said Brees. "It was fun to watch those punt returns by Reggie. I'm sure the whole country enjoyed that. But the disappointing things is that we beat ourselves."
Pierre Thomas had kickoff returns of 56, 32 and 42 yards.
The Saints defensive line and linebackers held Adrian Peterson to 32 yards rushing on 21 carries despite their 27th ranking among NFL defenses.
The Saints are the only NFC South team without a winning record and will host Oakland and JaMarcus Russell on Sunday.
This game entertained a national television audience with a widely seesaw, you-take-it-I don't want-it type of game. I don't believe the Who Dat Nation was entertained at the end.
Pressboxers picking Gators over Tigers
"I'm not surprised that people are picking Florida over us," said LSU coach Les Miles at his weekly media luncheon on Monday. "This will not be the first time we are going to a place where the other team is supposed to win." Florida is a four-point favorite.
"If you find any weaknesses in Florida let me know," said the coach. "They don't have any weaknesses. They are ranked No. 11 and that's underselling them. It will be our strengths against their strengths."
The Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter for a 28-24 victory over the Gators last season. The had their problems controlling reigning Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, who accounted for all three Gators touchdowns -- two through the air and one on the ground.
Miles said Tebow is a better quarterback this year than last even though his statistics aren't as glittering. "Tim Tebow plays pretty darn well," said the coach. "He is more- rounded this season. He understands the game better. He's making better decisions."
Freshman Jarrett Lee will start for the Tigers at quarterback. "Jarrett is continuing to come," said Miles. "He's had some really strong practices in the past few weeks. He will get the first look. We'll bring in Andrew Hatch in the second or third series."
Miles said his Tigers enjoy playing teams like Florida. "Our team will have a real want to compete in this game," said the coach. "If we play like we can, i like our matchup. Make no bones about it. This game will be fun to play."
The Saints committed too many mistakes and bloopers despite Reggie Bush's two punt returns for touchdowns and fell to the Minnesota Vikings 30-27 before a raucous sellout crowd and a national television audience on Monday night at the Superdome.
