Saints Are Awful In The Fourth Quarter
December 14th, 2012
Remember how the Bucs coughed up a lead to the Giants in the fourth quarter? How about the Dixie Chicks? Perhaps the Redskins? Maybe the choke job to the Beagles is still fresh in your memory?
Oh, and didn’t Drew Brees have his way with the awful Bucs secondary in the fourth quarter?
Well, Joe may have some salve for those wounds. In recent weeks, the Saints may be playing worse in the fourth quarter than the Bucs, difficult as that may be to fathom.
This information is sent via the interwebs by Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. In the past six weeks, the Saints have been outscored 43-6 in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Drew Brees has particularly struggled late in games. His fourth-quarter passer rating of 66.6 ranks 33rd in the NFL among all quarterbacks with at least 34 passing attempts.
Brees has completed 54 percent of his passes in the fourth quarter with four touchdowns and six interceptions.
Of course, those numbers are skewed by the fact that Brees has been playing catch-up in a lot of fourth quarters, throwing several desperation interceptions. Regardless, the performance hasn’t been anywhere near his usual standard.
Joe wants to be confident, wants to believe that with the Bucs’ potent offense (provided quarterback Josh Freeman is having a “good-Josh” day) and the rotten Saints defense and the trend the Saints have established, that the Bucs can win if they need a couple of scores late in the game. And maybe even keep whatever faint hopes of a playoff berth alive.
Then Joe quickly flashes back to a Bucs’ pass defense that that has played so terribly of late it would have a struggle stopping Robinson High School’s passing attack.
December 14th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
I may hate the Aints, but awful is a word I would never use to describe them. Dangerous is more appropriate because Drew Brees can put up 50 points on you in a heartbeat, regardless of when and or where. Never underestimate the Saints no matter what their stats are. They are still the best team in the NFC South IMO even though the record says otherwise.
December 14th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
5 TDs for drew brees on sunday. nothing helps a QB quite like a sunday vs the bucs pass defense. brees has been really struggling lately but he’s got to love playing the guys who made nick foles look like joe montana
December 14th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
After 20 years of watching the Bucs, another thing I’ve learned is that people tend to always do things against us they dont normally do. For example expect Brees to light us up in the 4th quarter this game.
December 14th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
And how exactly have the Bucs improved since the Saints last beat us? Other than our pass defense being even worse than it was, not better? You think Brees won’t feast on Sunday? He’ll be chowing down on our secondary like a fat man at a Golden Corral. All you can eat, baby!
December 14th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
If he played a secondary like the BUCS every week he wouldn’t be. It is our Achilles heal we definitely need to improve in the off-season. This game could be a shootout. The BUCS have to score almost every time they touch the ball because last time except for interceptions we really never were able to stop them very well. Anytime they needed yards they got them.
December 14th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Dear Joe
If you are going to use the phrase “interwebs” as a sarcastic comment please use it correctly.
“teh Interwebs”
Thanks
Your Friends the Geeks
December 14th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
I just want to know how Brees has his thumb pointing down after releasing the ball???? His hand looks so odd in that photo. I’ve tried to recreate that throwing motion but it seems awkward to end up with the hand like that. Oh well, obviously it works for him.
December 14th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
@Bobby
He rotate his arm to add a spin on the ball.
December 14th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
@Sneedy16..I understand rotating your arm but usually it’s the opposite way.
It looks like he rotated it to put a counterclockwise spin on the ball.
December 14th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Bobby, it’s pretty obvious to me that Brees was either throwing a curve ball or a hard breaking slider…. no, wait… if he threw the ball the way it looks it would be a screw ball or a palm ball…. I don’t get it either.
December 15th, 2012 at 11:18 am
This game will probably be a shoot out until the final minutes. I just don’t want to see it left to the defense to win the game. If the Bucs have the lead and need a couple of first downs to seal the victory. Freeman needs to run for first if necessary, none of the horsesh*t conservative play calling. Not converting first downs with lead in the final minutes is the Tampa trademark lose.
December 15th, 2012 at 11:32 am
It’s either a big Saints win or a close game depending on which Freeman shows up
December 15th, 2012 at 11:37 am
I believe the Bucs have exceeded the expectations of many “experts” this season and look good going into the offseason . Would like to see them smack brees around a bit on Sunday and get a few picks . All in all . gotta say I have high hopes for the future and with a good draft , should be contenders for awhile .