Just like James Brown said with his 1972 hit song, “Get On The Good Foot,” the New Orleans Saints got back on the good foot with their 31-15 victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
The Saints (6-8 overall, 2-2 NFC South) are dangerously close to being eliminated from the playoffs, a feeling they haven’t felt since 2012. They really needed this win, as they have two very important games on the horizon, which includes NFC South division leader Atlanta and division bottom feeder Tampa Bay.
Just because the Buccaneers stink as bad as a skunk this year, that doesn’t mean that the Saints don’t have to beat them on December 28. Every single game that they (New Orleans) have on their remaining schedule is pivotal. Plus, they need the Falcons and the Carolina Panthers to do some losing the next few weeks for them to have a chance to jump into second place in the NFC South and to have a chance to make the playoffs.
Tonight’s game featured some methodical offensive theatrics by the Saints. Their offense didn’t blow the Bears out of Soldier Field, but they did score enough points and matriculate down the field when they had to.
The Saints kicked off the scoring when quarterback Drew Brees (29 of 36 for 375 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions) took the snap and then play action faked to running back Khiry Robinson, and then he threw to tight end Josh Hill who took the pass down the right sideline and into the end zone from 8 yards out. The Saints had a 7-0 lead with 14:52 left in the second quarter.
Then three drives later, the Saints scored again. Brees threw his second touchdown of the game, this one to wide receiver Marques Colston (5 catches for 65 yards and 1 score) from 9 yards out and to the back the end zone with Bears cornerback Demontre Hurst draped all over him. It was now 14-0 with just 32 ticks left in the second quarter.
Colston has led the Saints in receiving touchdowns four times (2006, 2007, 2009, and 2012) from 2006-2014. But since the emergence of star tight end Jimmy Graham and the departed Darren Sproles, Colston’s visibility has faded. And the aforementioned 9 yard touchdown reception was his first scoring play since November 30, 2014 versus Pittsburgh. He still is a big time threat and a life line for this offense, but Colston isn’t what he was from 2006-2012.
Moving on, Hill scored his second touchdown on pretty much the same route that he ran on his first score. He acted like he was going to be an extra edge blocker for Brees on the passer’s rollout to his left—-after a left-side play action fake—-then Hill broke away from the defender to catch Brees’ pass and then he turned up field and down the right sideline. Finally the tight end pranced into the end zone for a 7 yard touchdown reception. The score was now 21-0 with 8:35 left in the third quarter.
Hill, who hadn’t a touchdown reception since October 26, 2014 versus Green Bay, had two touchdown receptions near the midpoint of the third quarter and those scores gave the Saints all the points they would need tonight.
Little used Bears wide receiver Marquess Wilson, gave his team their first points of the night and also it was the first score of his two year NFL career. On the play, he beat Saints cornerback Terrence Frederick off the line of scrimmage, and then ran a shallow cross and finally he caught quarterback Jay Cutler’s (17 of 31 for 194 yards, 2 touchdown and 3 picks) pass in the end zone for a 1 yard score. It was 24-6 with 12:47 left in the game.
Saints running back Mark Ingram (17 carries for 59 yards and 1 score) ended any chance that the Bears thought they had of coming back. He took Brees’ handoff, then saw a hole he wasn’t too fond of and then cutback to his right, and finally he raced down the right side and into the end zone with three Bear defenders giving chase. With just 1:47 left in the game, the Saints had a 31-6 advantage.
Someone forgot to tell Bears star receiver Alshon Jeffery (4 catches for 78 yards and 1 score) that the game was a wrap, because near the tail end of the game he was still going hard and annoying the Saints defense. He scored the last points of the game for either team, when he beat Saints cornerback A.J. Davis to the right corner of the end zone and to the ball to complete a 7 yard score. It was 31-15 Saints with 32 seconds left in the contest.
On the ensuing kickoff, Bears kicker Jay Feely’s onside kick was recovered by Saints tight end Benjamin Watson and that was all she wrote for the Bears.
