Final
Saints-Cardinals Preview
Oct 7, 2010 - 2:07 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS WriterWhile the New Orleans Saints aren't happy with their offensive production, they can take comfort knowing their Super Bowl MVP is still taking the snaps. The Arizona Cardinals don't have that luxury.
Drew Brees and the defending champion Saints visit a struggling Cardinals team that is handing its offense over to undrafted rookie free agent Max Hall on Sunday.
After leading the NFL in points (31.9) and yards (403.8) per game last season, the 3-1 Saints are averaging 19.8 points and 344.0 yards in 2010.
"We're not satisfied with the way we're playing, not putting up more than an average of 20 points a game," said Brees, who completed 33 of 48 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown in last Sunday's 16-14 win over Carolina.
"This offense prides itself on big plays, a lot of points, spreading the ball around and running the ball well, all the things we haven't quite done yet to this point."
That could change Sunday when Brees, who has the league's fourth-most passing yards with 1,131, faces a Cardinals team yielding 29.5 points and 388.0 yards per game.
Arizona's porous defense could also help New Orleans' running game, which has been hampered by injuries. The Saints, who are among the league's worst rushing teams with 73.2 yards per game, will be without Reggie Bush (fractured right fibula) for at least a few more weeks, while Pierre Thomas could miss a second straight game with a sprained left ankle.
If Thomas is sidelined, Ladell Betts and rookie Christopher Ivory will likely get the majority of carries against a Cardinals defense allowing an NFC-worst 154.8 rushing yards per game. The two combined for 114 rushing yards last weekend, with Betts running for 47 and catching four passes for 23 yards in his first action since tearing two knee ligaments in November with Washington.
"I don't want to be the weak link," he said. "I don't want this offense to not be able to run the plays that they normally run just because I'm in there. I pride myself on knowing everything that's in the playbook."
The Cardinals (2-2) are hoping Hall can make the same claim. Looking for a spark with his team averaging 14.5 points and 251.5 yards, coach Ken Whisenhunt will give the 24-year-old Mesa native his first NFL start in Arizona's second starting quarterback change since training camp opened.
Matt Leinart was expected to be the heir apparent to Kurt Warner, who retired in the offseason after a 41-14 NFC divisional loss at New Orleans on Jan. 16, but he was released Sept. 4. Derek Anderson, who was signed in the offseason, took over for Leinart, but he has been intercepted five times and has the league's lowest passer rating at 59.5.
After being picked off twice in the first half of last Sunday's 41-10 loss at San Diego, Anderson was replaced by Hall, who completed 8 of 14 passes for 82 yards and no interceptions while being sacked six times.
"It doesn't matter who is back there, if we don't block for the quarterback ... you could put my grandmother back there and she wouldn't do well," center Lyle Sendlein told the Cardinals' official website. "Not saying she would do well if we did block for her. (But) she's pretty athletic."
With wide receivers Steve Breaston (knee) and Early Doucet (sports hernia) likely out, Hall will be looking to throw to Larry Fitzgerald, who has just 14 receptions for 208 yards and two TDs. The four-time Pro Bowler caught 97 passes for 1,092 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2009.
The Cardinals will also be looking for more from their running game after Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells combined for 43 yards against San Diego.
Including the postseason, New Orleans has won two straight and 11 of the last 16 meetings in this series. The Saints fell 34-10 in their last visit to Arizona in 2004.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 10 3 0 7 20
ARIZONA 0 10 3 17 30 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: NOR - FG, JOHN CARNEY 31 YD, 5:11.
NEWORLEANS 3-0
NOR - TD, JEREMY SHOCKEY 1 YD PASS FROM
DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY
KICK), 13:30. NEWORLEANS 10-0
2ND QUARTER: ARI - FG, JAY FEELY
Oct 10 7:14 PM - NFL
NEW ORLEANS 20
ARIZONA 30 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 10 7:14 PM
TD ARI DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE 28 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 30 4th - 0:10Oct 10 7:10 PM
TD ARI DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE 28 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 30 4th - 0:10Oct 10 7:10 PM
TD ARI DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE 29 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 30 4th - 0:10Oct 10 7:10 PM
TD ARI DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE 29 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 30 4th - 0:10Oct 10 7:10 PM
TD NOR ROBERT MEACHEM 35 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 23 4th - 1:49Oct 10 7:03 PM
TD NOR ROBERT MEACHEM 35 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 23 4th - 1:49Oct 10 7:03 PM
TD NOR ROBERT MEACHEM 35 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 23 4th - 1:49Oct 10 7:03 PM
TD NOR ROBERT MEACHEM 35 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 23 4th - 1:49Oct 10 7:00 PM
TD NOR ROBERT MEACHEM 35 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 23 4th - 1:49Oct 10 7:00 PM
TD NOR ROBERT MEACHEM 35 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 20, Cardinals 23 4th - 1:49Oct 10 7:00 PM
TD ARI KERRY RHODES 27 YD FUMBLE RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Saints 13, Cardinals 23 4th - 10:39Oct 10 6:34 PM
TD ARI KERRY RHODES 27 YD FUMBLE RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Saints 13, Cardinals 23 4th - 10:39Oct 10 6:34 PM
TD ARI KERRY RHODES 27 YD FUMBLE RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Saints 13, Cardinals 23 4th - 10:39Oct 10 6:34 PM
TD ARI KERRY RHODES 27 YD FUMBLE RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Saints 13, Cardinals 23 4th - 10:39Oct 10 6:34 PM- NFL
FG ARI
JAY FEELY 29 YD
NEW ORLEANS 13
ARIZONA 16 11:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Saints 13, Cardinals 16 4th - 11:44Oct 10 6:27 PM - NFL
NEW ORLEANS 13
ARIZONA 13 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 10 6:21 PM - NFL
FG ARI
JAY FEELY 44 YD
NEW ORLEANS 13
ARIZONA 13 9:09 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Saints 13, Cardinals 13 3rd - 9:09Oct 10 5:59 PM - NFL
NEW ORLEANS 13
ARIZONA 10 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 10 5:35 PM - NFL
FG NOR
JOHN CARNEY 32 YD
NEW ORLEANS 13
ARIZONA 10 1:10 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Saints 13, Cardinals 10 2nd - 1:15Oct 10 5:30 PM - NFL
FG ARI
JAY FEELY 37 YD
NEW ORLEANS 10
ARIZONA 3 11:21 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Saints 10, Cardinals 3 2nd - 11:21Oct 10 4:49 PM - NFL
NEW ORLEANS 10
ARIZONA 0 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 10 4:41 PM
TD NOR JEREMY SHOCKEY 1 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 10, Cardinals 0 1st - 1:30Oct 10 4:37 PM
TD NOR JEREMY SHOCKEY 1 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 10, Cardinals 0 1st - 1:30Oct 10 4:37 PM
TD NOR JEREMY SHOCKEY 1 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 10, Cardinals 0 1st - 1:30Oct 10 4:37 PM
TD NOR JEREMY SHOCKEY 1 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 10, Cardinals 0 1st - 1:30Oct 10 4:36 PM
TD NOR JEREMY SHOCKEY 1 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 10, Cardinals 0 1st - 1:30Oct 10 4:36 PM
TD NOR JEREMY SHOCKEY 1 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (JOHN CARNEY KICK)
Saints 10, Cardinals 0 1st - 1:30Oct 10 4:36 PM- NFL
FG NOR
JOHN CARNEY 31 YD
NEW ORLEANS 3
ARIZONA 0 9:49 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Saints 3, Cardinals 0 1st - 9:54Oct 10 4:13 PM
Related News
- Our offense vs their defense: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dec 26
- Gayle Benson’s generous donation to help fund a new Children’s Hospital in New Orleans Dec 26
- Fleur-de-Links, December 26: Playoff chances get slim for the Saints Dec 26
- Ravens-49ers: How to watch, start time, TV channel, live stream and more Dec 25
- Ravens vs. 49ers: Monday Night Football open thread Dec 25
- Giants vs. Eagles: Christmas Day open thread Dec 25
- Eagles vs Giants: How to watch, game time, TV schedule, streaming and more Dec 25
- Raiders vs. Chiefs: Christmas Day open thread Dec 25
- Chiefs vs Raiders: How to watch, game time, TV schedule, streaming and more Dec 25
- CSC Monday Night Football Week 16 preview and props Dec 25
- Highlighting the Cardinals’ positives on Christmas Day Dec 25
- Saints open as 3-point underdogs against the Bucs Dec 25