For any professional organization, questions are bound to arise regarding performance and playcalling — especially when a team is not playing up to its potential. Fans of the New Orleans Saints received no answers on Sunday as the team fell to a shorthanded Minnesota Vikings squad 27-19.
Allowing 312 yards and two touchdowns from Vikings backup quarterback Josh Dobbs, who was recently acquired from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade of desperation following injury to Kirk Cousins, and giving up nine penalties for 75 yards makes it very hard to win any professional football game. A 24-3 halftime lead was too tough to overcome despite outscoring the Vikings 16-3 in the second half.
“Obviously disappointed with how we played in the first half, and I’m taking full responsibility for this performance. We had some opportunities that we didn’t cash in on. We have to do a better job,” New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen said. “You can’t keep digging yourself in a hole and expect a different outcome. I’d like to think we can start a little faster, like I said we can’t keep digging ourselves holes against a good football team.”
With 7:43 left in the third quarter, Saints quarterback Derek Carr was injured after a hard hit from Danielle Hunter. Backup signal-caller Jameis Winston came in, driving down the field in four plays to find Chris Olave for a 14-yard touchdown reception.
Once the two-point conversion was good, the score was 27-11 in favor of Minnesota. Following a few possessions and a Vikings missed field goal, Winston drove New Orleans down the field in nine plays for another touchdown, this time to rookie Receiver A.T. Perry.
Another two-point conversion successful and the deficit was cut to one possession at 27-19. Unfortunately for the black and gold, this was the last time they would score as Winston went on to throw back-to-back interceptions as the comeback attempt fell short.
“Under all the circumstances, I was pleased with Jameis’ performance,” Allen said. “There were some plays we could have cashed in on, but Derek Carr is our starting quarterback. We just have to review where he is at. I don’t think we are playing as well as we’re capable of playing.”
Allen did not provide any additional information on Carr’s shoulder but did tell reporters that he had also been put under concussion protocol.
Dobbs kept Minnesota’s offense on track in his first start since being traded on Oct. 31, tossing a career-high 268 yards with 44 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The University of Tennessee product helped the Vikings to their fifth straight win.
Aiding Dobbs in the victory was tight end T.J. Hockenson, who had 134 receiving yards on 11 catches with one touchdown. Running back Ty Chandler had 45 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
For New Orleans, Olave finished 94 yards on six receptions as no non-quarterback player for the Saints surpassed 100 total yards. Alvin Kamara totaled 75 yards while Michael Thomas, coming off a Friday night misdemeanor arrest, had just one catch for nine yards.
New Orleans will now head into a much-needed bye week followed by a road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Nov. 26.
