Saints 19 Browns 14

DT Brian Young sacked Browns QB Charlie Frye three times.

1-0, baby!

This team has a realistic shot at starting out 3-0, even though I still think a 6 or 7 win season is optimistic.

Every time I get a chance, I will post my thoughts on the game. So here is "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly."

THE GOOD

• Reggie Bush looked above average. Not ESPN-good. Not Hall of Fame good. But pretty damn good.
• Reggie Bush will lead NFL running backs (rookie or otherwise) in receptions if healthy.
• Deuce is back.
• Marques Colston is going to be our Antonio Gates. By that I mean Drew Brees's security blanket, not All-Pro tight end.
• That much-maligned offensive line gave up no sacks and helped the Saints rush for over 150 yards.
• The defense looks aggressive. Maybe they won't be the worst in Saints history.
• Brian Young: 3 sacks. Where the hell did that come from?
• Interceptions from Fujita and Bullocks.
• The defense didn't give up a first down until the Browns' final drive of the first half.
• The defense came up big after Deuce's fumble. I just knew that the Browns would take the lead on that drive.
• The defense came up with a big 3-and-out (with 2 sacks) after the Saints took the 19-14 lead.
• The Browns had the ball at midfield with 2 minutes left. And the Saints stopped them. Cold. How many times have we seen us lose a game in the last 2 minutes that we dominated for the first 58?
• No (or at least very few) dumb-ass decisions or stupid penalties for the first 50 minutes of the game.
• We scored points in our first drive. Remember when we used to do that?
• We have a head coach more concerned with the game plan than showing up the refs.
• Drew Brees never broke the huddle and discovered that 3 seconds were left on the play clock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE BAD

• The penalties started to come back in the final minutes of the game.
• We need to find a way to get Reggie Bush involved in key 3rd-and-short situations.
• We settled for 2 field goals in situations where we should have scored touchdowns.
• Our vertical passing game is nonexistent.
• Our tight ends are nonexistent, at least as receiving options.
• Roman Harper vs. Kellen Winslow. But in Harper's defense, he came up with a big sack in the 4th quarter on 3rd down.
• Drew Brees and Joe Horn have no chemistry. Yet.
• Marques Colston needed to bring that ball in on the flea-flicker pass.
• Charlie Frye was able to scramble on us. What's going to happen when we play Michael Vick???????????????????????

THE UGLY

• The Browns had a first half touchdown and a 4th down conversion called back by penalty. They also had a 50-yard change of field position after a punt in the first quarter because of a penalty. Isn't it nice to see other teams get the bad breaks for a change???????????
• First and goal at the 3 late in the game. Good teams get in the end zone and put the game out of reach. Instead, we settle for a field goal and keep the Browns in the game.
• 3rd and 1 with 3 minutes left in the game. WHY IN THE HELL CAN'T THE SAINTS EVER CONVERT A 3RD AND 1 IN THE FINAL 5 MINUTES OF A FRIGGIN FOOTBALL GAME????????????????????????????????????????
• The Cleveland Browns offense is Mike Ditka bad. They have one NFL-caliber skill player (Kellen Winslow). The rest of the team was just a bunch of Andre Hastingses and Lamar Smiths.
• Aren't you glad that we didn't select (Browns offensive coordinator) Maurice Carthon wasn't selected as head coach? Actually, like I said, I think the Browns' lack of talent is more to blame than his play calling.
• That penalty against the Saints on the Browns' final drive of the game. GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Why do I think that Joe Horn is not going to be happy with his role on the team?

Next week: Green Bay. I'm not going to predict a victory. However, I will predict that it will be better than 52-3.

TAGS: New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, NFL, NFL Week One, Reggie Bush, Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister