Drew Brees celebrates Saints Hall of Fame induction with fans in the Dome
Updated: 8:56 PM CDT Oct 17, 2024
New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees was honored Thursday night during halftime of the game against the Denver Broncos.Brees became the 59th inductee into the Saints Hall of Fame, dating to 1988.Universally considered the greatest player in franchise history, Brees guided the Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV and was the Most Valuable Player in the 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Brees also led the Saints to two other NFC championship games. Brees was a two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year and made 12 Pro Bowls in his 15 years with the Saints. Brees set numerous NFL passing records, and is among the greatest quarterbacks and players in NFL history.
NEW ORLEANS —
New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees was honored Thursday night during halftime of the game against the Denver Broncos.
Brees became the 59th inductee into the Saints Hall of Fame, dating to 1988.
Universally considered the greatest player in franchise history, Brees guided the Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV and was the Most Valuable Player in the 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Brees also led the Saints to two other NFC championship games.
Brees was a two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year and made 12 Pro Bowls in his 15 years with the Saints. Brees set numerous NFL passing records, and is among the greatest quarterbacks and players in NFL history.
Zachary And Carissa J.: If you aren’t a Broncos or Saints fan and are still watching this then it’s time to look in the mirror.
Saints fan Dale F.: Welp I was wrong. They did throttle us like Tampa did. Guess I’m stuck wearing orange to my Colorado in-laws at Christmas after all—probably should have waited until after Week 3 to make that bet haha.
Steven M.: I said it on draft night: everyone was so focused on Atlanta picking Penix that nobody talked about how bad the Nix pick was.
Denver Broncos Quarterback Bo Nix, the 12th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Football fans: It’s time to kick back and relax with some Thursday Night Football as the Denver Broncos (3-3) face the New Orleans Saints (2-4) tonight at the Caesars Superdome.
The Los Angeles Chargers put an end to the Broncos’ 3-game win streak on Sunday, Oct. 13, with their 23-16 victory. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton called it a “disappointing loss.”
“They ran the ball better than we did. We mustered up some offense late in the game. All of this starts with me. We have to be better offensively. We have to protect the ball better. That is what I saw. We will go from there. We have a short week,” said Payton, adding that the team will have to learn from the game and move forward.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Broncos vs. Saints NFL game tonight.
Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans game tonight
The Denver Broncos vs. the New Orleans Saints NFL Week 7 game will be played on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT). The game will air on Amazon Prime Video.
The Broncos are favored (2.5-point) to defeat the Saints, CBS Sports reports, citing SportsLine. Saints Quarterback Derek Carr is listed as doubtful for Thursday night’s game as he recovers from a left oblique strain he suffered during an Oct. 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
How to stream the Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans game
If you’re a Thursday Night Football fan, then you’ll want to get an Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Stream Thursday Night Football only on Amazon Prime Video
You can catch tonight’s game on Amazon Prime Video. Live coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon became the exclusive carrier of Thursday Night Football in September 2022. This season, they’re continuing as host through Week 17.
Amazon Prime is $14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. In addition to NFL football, Prime members will get two-day shipping, member-exclusive Prime Day deals, and expedited shipping on Prime Deals. Prime Video membership is $8.99 per month.
“Prime Video delivers best-in-class pregame, halftime, and postgame shows, alternate streams such as Prime Vision, as well as fan-favorite interactive features like X-Ray, Next Gen Stats powered by AWS and Rapid Recap,” the company states online.
Check out Amazon’s new football fan shop
Are you looking to rep your favorite NFL team this fall? Shopping for licensed NFL gear online has never been easier with Amazon’s new NFL Fan Shop. You can shop by team, yes, that includes the Broncos and Saints.
There are plenty of other things to shop on Amazon, including these must-see deals on TVs – perfect for watching the big games this fall!
Watch your favorite sports events with Sling TV
Reminder: Amazon Prime Video has exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football through Week 17.
Not everyone has a cable TV subscription, but there are plenty of options that allow you to watch some of your favorite sporting events throughout the year. If you don’t have a cable TV subscription that includes NFL Network, you may want to consider getting a subscription to Sling TV.
To watch the NFL Network on Sling TV, you’ll need a subscription to at least the Orange tier ($20 for your first month). That consists of 35 channels, including 8 exclusive sports and family channels. But you can only stream on one device at a time.
However, we recommend leveling up your coverage to the Orange + Blue with Sports Extra tier to get more NFL and college football games this fall. The Orange + Blue plan regularly costs $60 per month, but the streamer currently offers a half-off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $30.
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Rattler was 22 of 40 for 243 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, both in the second half. Running back Alvin Kamara had 13 carries for 40 yards with a 4-yard touchdown run, the 60th of his career. Rookie receiver Bub Means had his first reception, his first touchdown catch (10 yards in the second quarter) while catching five catches for 45 yards. The Saints used their fourth combination at offensive line with the absence of guard/center Lucas Patrick. Connor McGovern started in his place. The run game was a struggle, the longest run was a 16-yard scramble by Rattler, and pass protection became an issue in the second half.
Paulson Adebo, Johnathan Abram and Cameron Jordan had interceptions for the Saints while linebacker Willie Gay had a sack. But it wasn’t enough to stop Mayfield and the Bucs. The former No. 1 overall draft pick was 24 of 36 for 325 yards with four touchdown passes and the three interceptions. Sean Tucker had 14 carries for 136 yards while Bucky Irving added 81 yards on 14 carries. They each had a touchdown. It is the fifth time in franchise history the Saints have given up 50 or more points. The 594 yards is the second most the Saints have given up in franchise history.
The Bucs, playing for the first time in 10 days, practiced all week at Tulane to escape the impact of Hurricane Milton, which hit the Tampa Bay area. The Saints, who entered this week on short rest after the Monday night game, have an even shorter week as they host the Denver Broncos on “Thursday Night Football” at the Caesars Superdome. The Broncos (3-2) are playing the Los Angeles Chargers at 3:05 p.m. Sunday.
On the Saints’ first offensive possession, the defense recorded a takeaway, halting the home team’s momentum. Tykee Smith forced the ball out of Chris Olave’s hands, blanketing the Saints’ receiver. Antoine Winfield Jr., who returned from a foot injury in Week Six, recovered the football and returned it 58 yards for a Tampa Bay touchdown, providing the Bucs’ with an early 14-0 lead inside the Superdome.
On the next drive after Mike Evans drew a pass interference flag on Paulson Adebo, Carl Granderson was flagged for unnecessary roughness two plays later. A flea flicker picked up 15 yards for Sean Tucker on the trick play, but Mayfield’s pass to Evans on third down went incomplete. Chase McLaughlin drilled a 26-yard field goal, giving the Bucs a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.
On the following drive, following a pickup of 16 for Spencer Rattler on a scramble and a 13-yard gain for Foster Moreau, Calijah Kancey dropped Alvin Kamara for a loss of one. After Kamara was stopped short on third down by Yaya Diaby, the Saints were forced to kick a field goal at the beginning of the second frame, making it a 17-3 game.
The Bucs next drive began with back-to-back penalties, including too many men on the field and a false start. After a couple incompletions to Evans and Godwin, an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Bucs stalled the drive on third down. Rashid Shaheed then fielded Jake Camarda’s 47-yard punt, and he returned it 64 yards for a Saints’ touchdown.
Tampa Bay’s next drive was cut short as Paulson Adebo intercepted Mayfield at the Tampa Bay 30-yard line. He returned it 17 yards but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Alontae Taylor brought the Saints back 15 yards. New Orleans was not able to cash in with points after Vita Vea sacked Rattler on third down, which set up a Grupe 29-yard field goal.
A turnover promptly ended the Bucs next drive. Mayfield’s pass intended for Jalen McMillan was intercepted by Johnathan Abram at the Tampa Bay 40-yard line. He returned it 30 yards to the 10, and the Saints cashed in with a score. Rattler connected with Bub Means on a 10-yard score, giving the Saints a 20-17 lead. The Buccaneers immediately responded with a touchdown of their own. A 39-yard gain by Ryan Miller put the Bucs in positive field position and Tucker took a screen 36-yards to the house, capping off a six-play, 76-yard scoring drive. He maneuvered around traffic and found the end zone.
The Saints fired back on a seven-play, 70-yard scoring drive. From second-and-seven, Rattler found Moreau sitting in a zone over the middle of the field and the Saints’ tight end picked up 41 yards on the catch-and-run, setting the home team up at the seven-yard-line. Alvin Kamara finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown. New Orleans took a three-point lead in the offensive shootout before the two-minute warning.
The Bucs’ next drive was stalled by an interception. Bryan Bresee batted down Mayfield’s pass intended for Cade Otton and Cam Jordan intercepted the ball at the New Orleans 40-yard line, putting Rattler and co. right back on the field. The Saints were not able to take advantage with points, after an effective pressure package by the Bucs on third down. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Lavonte David came flying in, forcing an errant throw by the rookie.
Coming out the half, rookie Tykee Smith forced another fumble that Zyon McCollum recovered. After review, the play was ruled an incomplete pass, setting up an ensuing punt. The Saints’ defense forced a quick three-and-out and the Bucs followed suit with a Camarda punt. The Bucs’ defense brought the pressure on the subsequent drive for N.O. Rattler was taken down by K.J. Britt and Chris Braswell on first down for a loss of nine yards and the next play, Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey got into the mix, splitting a sack for a loss of three, which resulted in third-and-22 and an eventual punt.
The Bucs’ offense followed suit with a touchdown. Godwin took a screen 55 yards, culminating in a score. He made the first defender miss and cutback inside for an open shot at the end zone. The RAC-artist utilized his physical prowess in the open field, giving Tampa Bay a five-point lead.
On the Saints’ next drive, a 30-yard gain by Johnson was brought back due to an illegal shift and ensuing replay of second down. An incompletion on third down set up a Matthew Hayball punt. The Bucs’ following drive ended after a second-down sack by Willie Gay on Mayfield and a third-down scramble by Mayfield came up short of the sticks. The Bucs’ defense came up with a takeaway on the ensuing drive, this one by McCollum at the Tampa Bay 42-yard line. He intercepted Rattler’s pass intended for Shaheed, making a sensational leaping grab. Bucky Irving continued the stellar trend for Tampa Bay with a 31-yard run. He quickly bounced to the outside with a lateral cut and threw a lethal stiff arm into the mix. Otton capped off the five-play, 58-yard drive with a touchdown. Under duress, Mayfield threw a low dart to No.88 right on the numbers as he fell to the ground, extending the visiting team’s lead, 37-27.
The Bucs’ defense then forced a Saints’ three-and-out, including a sack by Lavonte David on first down. The Tampa Bay offense put an exclamation mark on the game with a 10-play, 71-yard scoring drive, capped off by an Irving one-yard touchdown run. A few plays before, the rookie running back brought the Bucs to the New Orleans eight-yard line off an 18-yard screen. The Saints’ defense had no answers for the Bucs’ perimeter assault.
The defense quickly answered, with Smith intercepting Rattler at the Tampa Bay 36-yard line. The very next play, Tucker passed through the B-gap for a 36-yard gain post-cut. He ended the six-play, 64-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown, to give the Bucs’ a convincing 51-27 win.
While Allen said that Carr will return to the starting lineup upon his return and didn’t rule out Haener starting at some point, he said Rattler needn’t concern himself with having a short leash Sunday.
“I think you’ve got to let the guy go in there and play,” Allen said. “We’re not going into this game saying, ‘You make a mistake and we’re going to pull you.’ He’s going in to play. He’s going to start, he’s going to lead the team, and we go from there.
“You don’t want to go into this thing like it’s this major ordeal. He’s the next man up, get an opportunity to go in and play. Go play and have fun, do what you’ve been trained to do.
“I think sometimes you can make too big a deal of it and create more of an issue than you really need to. We’ll go through the things that he needs to know, we’ll get him prepared and then we’ll let him go out there and play.”
Though Rattler had been the emergency quarterback for five games, Allen said Rattler had impressed in practice.
“He goes against us on the ‘show” team every day and he’s got athletic ability, he can throw the ball, he’s accurate, he creates some plays on the scout team,” Allen said. “I just think this is a guy who has a lot of ability and certainly he’s a rookie, so we know that we’re going to have some challenges that go along with that, but I think we’ll have a good plan for him and we’ll be excited about going out and playing.
“He’s done a good job for us on the show team. He’s made some really good plays against our defense. He’s made some awkward throws and his mobility has been good.
“It’s going to be incumbent on us as coaches to put him in the best position to be successful.”
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler is scheduled to take his first regular-season NFL snaps on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A former Phoenix Pinnacle High star, Rattler joins San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy of Gilbert Perry High as the NFL’s only two starting quarterbacks to play high school ball in Arizona.
At Pinnacle, Rattler was rated by 247 Sports as the best pro-style quarterback and a top-10 overall prospect in the 2019 class, initially signing with Oklahoma before transferring to South Carolina.
Saints coach Dennis Allen selected Rattler as this week’s starter on Wednesday after confirming that usual starter Derek Carr will miss at least one game because of a left oblique injury that occurred in the fourth quarter of New Orleans’ 26-13 loss in Kansas City on Monday night.
“We just internally talked a lot about it and felt like in this particular game he was going to give us the best chance to win,” Allen said. “He’s a rookie. So, we’re going to have some challenges that go along with that. But I think we’ll have a good plan for him.”
The decision means that — for now — the 24-year-old Rattler moves ahead of second-year pro Jake Haener on the depth chart.
Haener, 25, replaced Carr after his injury in Kansas City and also played late in a pair of lopsided victories to start the season. He’s attempted just eight passes during his chances to play this season, completing two for 17 yards. He has not been intercepted and has not thrown for a touchdown.
Allen noted that Rattler had shown promise while serving as the scout team QB during the first five weeks of the season.
“He’s made some really good plays against our defense,” Allen said. “He’s made some accurate throws and his mobility’s been good.”
Rattler, 24, was selected by the Saints in the fifth round of last spring’s NFL draft out of South Carolina, where he started for two seasons after transferring from Oklahoma.
During his final college season in 2023, he started 12 games, passing for 3,186 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Allen said Rattler should not worry about being subbed out quickly if he struggles to perform during New Orleans’ first few possessions.
“You’ve got to let the guy go in there and play,” Allen said. “We’re not going into this game saying that, you know, ‘If you make a mistake, we’re going to pull you.’”
Meanwhile, Rattler’s center will be newly acquired, eight-year veteran Conner McGovern, who made his debut with the club on Monday night.
He was acquired as Shane Lemieux (ankle) became the second Saints center this season to go on injured reserve, joining usual starter Erik McCoy (groin).
McGovern’s first time snapping the ball to Rattler was during a light walkthrough the Saints held on Wednesday.
“He was dialed in,” McGovern said. “You could tell he was playing with a lot of confidence. His huddle presence was really professional.
“That’s what I always look for in a quarterback,” McGovern added. “You need that swagger, that confidence, to play quarterback and he was playing with it today.”
The Saints (2-3), who’ve lost three straight, are about to play two games in the span of five days. After Sunday’s matchup with the Bucs, Denver visits the following Thursday night. The compressed timeline increases the likelihood that Carr could miss more than one game.
Allen stressed that while Rattler is now preparing to start, “It’s really basically going to be kind of a week-to-week deal.”
“We’ll worry about this week right now and see where we’re at after that,” Allen said.
Chris Olave, de ascendencia cubana, ha ido mejorando desde su entrada en la NFL en 2022 y ahora ha ascendido a ser el receptor No. 1 de los Saints
METAIRIE, Luisiana — Chris Olave no siempre supo lo que significaba ser un receptor No. 1.
Sabía cómo hacer jugadas en momentos clave y acumular estadísticas, compilando temporadas consecutivas de 1,000 yardas recibidas para los New Orleans Saints en sus primeros dos años. Pero Olave también pasó esos años a la sombra del veterano Michael Thomas, el Jugador Ofensivo del Año de la NFC en 2019, cuyas últimas cuatro temporadas se vieron descarriladas por lesiones.
Olave contó con la experiencia de Thomas en la que apoyarse al principio de su carrera, pero después de la liberación del veterano en marzo, quedó claro que el equipo dependería en gran medida de Olave hacia el futuro. Ahora, con 24 años y en el corazón de su tercera temporada (su primera sin Thomas), Olave quiere que confíen en él en todos los aspectos de su juego.
Pasó la temporada baja trabajando en sus deficiencias con la intención de convertirse en un verdadero receptor No. 1. Olave quería convertirse en un bloqueador más duradero y confiable. Se preparó para esas responsabilidades trabajando en su fuerza en el salón de pesas y también miró videos de su bloqueo para encontrar formas de mejorar después de admitir que se veía “débil” en esa área.
“Sólo quiero ser un receptor de cada intento”, dijo Olave. “… Siento que en los primeros años, salía en jugadas de carrera. Todos sabían que iba a ser una carrera. Así que sólo quiero estar ahí. Incluso en las jugadas de carrera, que se confíe en mí para poder hacer bloqueos. Simplemente dar el siguiente paso en mi juego”.
Los Saints (2-2) buscarán que Olave haga grandes jugadas cuando intenten poner fin a una racha de dos derrotas contra los Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) el lunes por la noche (8 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes).
“Cuando Mike estaba aquí … era la transición de Chris, que estaba empezando a conseguir los objetivos No. 1, todo ese tipo de cosas. Era diferente”, dijo el mariscal de campo Derek Carr en el campamento de entrenamiento. “Pero al llegar este año, él lo sabe. … En su cabeza, ‘Cada balón es mío’. En cada jugada que se llama, él debería sentir que ‘Voy a conseguir esa cosa'”.
Olave demostró su habilidad para realizar esas grandes recepciones cuando quedaban poco más de dos minutos en la derrota de la Semana 3 ante los Philadelphia Eagles. Atravesó la esquina de la zona de anotación a toda velocidad, hizo el ‘stutter step’ y arrastró los dedos de los pies hacia abajo para asegurar un touchdown que les dio la ventaja antes de que los Eagles regresaran para ganar en el último minuto del juego.
Esos eran los momentos que Olave imaginó cuando fue seleccionado en el puesto No. 11 del draft de 2022 procedente de Ohio State. Pero no pensó mucho más allá de eso cuando ingresó a la liga a los 21 años.
“Así era yo al principio”, dijo Olave. “… Pensé que se trataba simplemente de poder atrapar pases, atrapar touchdowns”.
Ya ha habido señales de que Olave está dando un salto. Atrapó ocho pases, la mayor cantidad de la temporada, para 87 yardas y convirtió dos terceras oportunidades tardías para darles una oportunidad a los Saints en una derrota por 26-24 ante los Atlanta Falcons la semana pasada. Olave, quien lidera al equipo con 20 recepciones para 265 yardas y un touchdown, ha considerado este tipo de actuaciones como “el estándar” desde sus días como Buckeye.
Pero su nuevo estándar también incluye lo que mostró contra los Falcons: un bloqueo que permitió al corredor Alvin Kamara una ganancia de 7 yardas y una recepción disputada de 33 yardas que fue anulada debido a la falta de un compañero de equipo.
Olave hizo todas esas cosas mientras disputó 58 jugadas con un tendón de la corva lesionado.
“No hay victorias morales, pero eso sin duda es algo positivo para nosotros de cara al futuro”, dijo Carr después de la derrota. “Su determinación y su dureza. Eso es lo que necesitamos de nuestro No. 1, y él nos lo dio”.
OLAVE NO ESTABA PENSANDO en bloquear en la derrota 26-9 ante los Tampa Bay Buccaneers en la Semana 4 de la temporada pasada. En cambio, se sintió frustrado después de atrapar un pase de 4 yardas.
Dijo que expresó su frustración en la banca. Varios compañeros lo llevaron a un lado para corregir su actitud y darle consejos.
“Los jugadores mayores me dicen que es natural [el] tener malos partidos”, dijo Olave este verano. “Pero el simple hecho de tener el estándar que tengo para mí mismo y las expectativas que tengo sobre mí mismo, a veces se vuelve difícil. … Dejarlo pasar y simplemente recuperarse para el próximo partido es algo que aprendí el año pasado”.
Olave admitió que había tenido el enfoque equivocado, pero eso no fue una panacea para el resto de la temporada. Carr y el entrenador de los Saints, Dennis Allen, lo criticaron públicamente tres semanas después por las rutas que corrió contra los Jacksonville Jaguars. Carr fue captado gritándole a Olave durante la transmisión, y Allen dijo la semana siguiente que no corrió la ruta hasta el final. Olave también fue arrestado bajo sospecha de conducción imprudente unos días después de ese juego.
“Siento que estábamos en sintonía durante los primeros dos partidos del año y luego tuvimos una pequeña caída”, dijo Olave. “Siento que estábamos en sintonía durante los últimos cinco partidos, pero el año pasado fue intermitente”.
Olave tuvo tres juegos de recepciones de 100 yardas en sus últimos seis juegos de la temporada. Carr dijo que pensó que finalmente estaban sincronizados en la derrota de la Semana 13 ante los Detroit Lions cuando Olave improvisó su ruta como si supiera exactamente lo que estaba pensando Carr.
“Mientras yo estaba lanzando el balón, él empezó a sentarse [en la ruta], lo lancé hacia la ventana, él lo atrapó y lo dividió para unas 20 yardas”, dijo Carr. “Y yo pensé, ‘Dios mío, esto podría volverse muy divertido’. … El hecho de que él lo viera de la misma manera que yo, es algo que a los receptores les resulta difícil”.
Olave dijo que se dejó llevar por la idea de ser el receptor No. 1 y tratar de atrapar todos los pases. Ahora, siente que él y su compañero de equipo Rashid Shaheed, quien tiene 15 recepciones para 252 yardas y dos touchdowns, comparten ese título de No. 1. Olave llegó a la Semana 5 en el puesto 15 en yardas recibidas y Shaheed estaba empatado en el puesto 16.
“Fue una experiencia de crecimiento. Yo era joven”, dijo Olave. “No siempre me va a salir bien, pero mientras ganemos, estoy cumpliendo mi trabajo. Eso es lo único que puedo controlar”.
Cuando Olave atrapó dos pases contra los Carolina Panthers en el primer juego de la temporada, no hubo expresión de frustración, lo que marca un cambio respecto de su proceso de pensamiento al final de la temporada pasada.
“La gente no se queda igual”, dijo el coach de receptores abiertos Keith Williams. “Se concentró en ese tipo de crecimiento en esa área. Y ha [crecido]. No se inmutó. Estaba entusiasmado por el plan para todos los demás. Estaba entusiasmado por la forma en que bloquea”.
OLAVE DECIDIÓ “reprogramar” su mentalidad cuando comenzó la temporada baja de 2024 después de que los Saints contrataran al coordinador ofensivo Klint Kubiak.
El esquema ofensivo de Kubiak implica más responsabilidades de bloqueo por parte de los receptores abiertos para disimular las tendencias ofensivas de las defensas rivales. Olave dijo que el bloqueo era una de sus mayores debilidades porque no estaba acostumbrado a hacerlo.
“Estoy acostumbrado a atrapar el balón, acarrear el balón, anotar touchdowns”, dijo Olave a principios de este verano. “Pero eso no nos ha funcionado realmente en lo que respecta a victorias en los últimos dos años”.
El esquema se basa en establecer la carrera, y los Saints estuvieron empatados en el primer lugar en intentos de carrera durante las primeras cuatro semanas de la temporada.
“Gran parte del éxito de nuestro juego terrestre se debe en particular al juego de nuestros receptores abiertos. El bloqueo ha sido sobresaliente”, dijo el coach de la línea ofensiva John Benton. “No sólo el bloqueo, sino también las cosas tontas como los falsos jet sweeps. Corren con convicción y nos esforzamos por demostrar cuánto influyen en la defensa cada vez”.
Olave se ha comprometido con su trabajo. Se lanzó a bloquear a los Panthers, fue derribado en el proceso y eliminó a tres jugadores defensivos en el camino para una ganancia de 17 yardas de Kamara.
“La buena disposición de Chris de participar en una carrera hacia el lado débil y eliminar a tres muchachos. … El hombre hizo la jugada del día al hacer ese bloqueo en esa carrera”, dijo Carr la semana siguiente.
En ese mismo juego, los bloqueos de Olave y el centro Erik McCoy abrieron un carril para que el corredor Jamaal Williams anotara en una carrera de 14 yardas. Olave le dio seguimiento a eso en la Semana 2 al bloquear a su hombre el tiempo suficiente para que Kamara llegara a la zona de anotación en una victoria sobre los Dallas Cowboys.
No sólo ha podido demostrar su confiabilidad en el juego terrestre, sino que también impresionó a Kubiak con su disponibilidad en el campamento de entrenamiento.
“Fue nuestro hombre de hierro en el campamento de entrenamiento. No se perdió ni una sola práctica”, dijo Kubiak. “… Es uno de los muchos que ha hecho todo lo que le hemos pedido y sabe que todavía le queda mucho por hacer”.
LA ACEPTACIÓN POR PARTE DE OLAVE del “trabajo sucio” no ha pasado desapercibida.
“Está ahí haciendo recepciones al principio, después de la práctica, repeticiones adicionales después de la práctica con los mariscales de campo”, dijo el receptor novato Bub Means. “He estado siguiendo esa rutina, pero es una selección de primera ronda del draft … y sigue ahí trabajando duro. Así que eso me demostró que es el mejor en el negocio, y sigue cumpliendo”.
También ha llegado en un momento de cambio general. Keith Williams, de 53 años, fue contratado como coach de receptores abiertos para proporcionar lo que Allen describió como un liderazgo de tipo “figura paterna”.
Thomas fue liberado en marzo, dejando a Olave y Shaheed como los veteranos en la sala. Los Saints también ficharon a Cedrick Wilson Jr., de 28 años. El experto de ESPN Adam Schefter reportó la semana pasada que los Saints estaban en la lista corta de equipos a los que le gustaría ser canjeado el receptor abierto de Las Vegas Raiders, Davante Adams. Adams jugó con Carr en Fresno State y en Las Vegas. Si bien Adams y Olave juegan principalmente por fuera, ambos han tomado jugadas desde la ranura este año y probablemente podrían combinarse si se les empareja.
Olave le ha dado crédito a Thomas por su desarrollo y dijo que lo ayudó a superar el muro de novato en 2022. Thomas estuvo limitado a 13 juegos en las últimas dos temporadas debido a lesiones, pero dejó un legado después de atrapar un récord de la NFL de 149 pases para los Saints en 2019.
Cuando Thomas fue liberado, no hubo dudas de que Olave sería el jugador principal hacia el futuro. Aceptó la responsabilidad y silenciosamente se convirtió en alguien a quien otros receptores intentan emular.
“Lo que pude ver desde el primer día es lo duro que trabaja. Es muy dedicado a su oficio”, dijo el receptor novato Mason Tipton. “Está en la [máquina Jugs]. Está haciendo trabajo de velocidad adicional. Está estudiando videos. A veces, no esperas eso de un receptor abierto No. 1. Podrías pensar que simplemente se mantienen a velocidad constante. Pero él trabaja muy duro”.
Olave señaló que sólo tiene un año más que Means y la misma edad que Tipton. Pero si Olave tiene la oportunidad de establecer un nuevo estándar este año, sin duda la aprovechará.
“Aprendí eso en Ohio State cuando era muy joven y lo aporté aquí”, dijo. “… Sé que no soy muy hablador, pero solo trato de dar el ejemplo, esforzarme y que todos me sigan”.
Katherine Terrell came back to ESPN to cover the New Orleans Saints in the summer of 2022. She left the company in 2019 after joining in 2016 to cover the Cincinnati Bengals. Katherine is a graduate of LSU and a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native, and she has covered the NFL since 2013. You can follow Katherine on Twitter: @Kat_Terrell
Oct 7, 2024, 11:30 PM ET
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs soared past the New Orleans Saints in a 26-13 win on “Monday Night Football.”
Kansas City entered the contest with questions at wide receiver, but WR JuJu Smith-Schuster had his best game of the season and finished with seven receptions for 130 yards. Meanwhile, the Saints struggled to score and quarterback Derek Carr exited the game in the fourth quarter with an oblique injury.
Here are keys to know from the game:
The Chiefs at long last won a game by a comfortable margin. After winning their past seven games dating back to last season’s playoffs by a one-score margin, they didn’t have to push to the end to beat the Saints on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Instead, Kansas City claimed a 26-13 victory that pushed its record to 5-0. The Chiefs have now had a winning streak of at least five games in each of Andy Reid’s 12 seasons as their head coach.
Silver lining: The Chiefs would not have signed Kareem Hunt had Isiah Pacheco not broken his leg. But Hunt is now helping the Chiefs stay afloat in Pacheco’s absence and is playing well enough that he deserves significant playing time when Pacheco returns. Having both players available would give the Chiefs some nice depth. Hunt finished with 102 yards and one touchdown off 27 carries.
Describe the game in two words: Seeing red. The Chiefs were 2-of-6 scoring touchdowns inside the New Orleans 20. Kansas City lost a touchdown in the red zone when Smith-Schuster deflected a pass at the goal line that went for a New Orleans interception.
Most surprising performance: Smith-Schuster had just two catches in the Chiefs’ first four games, but he had five against the Saints. Smith-Schuster filled the role Rashee Rice had been playing before his injury. He picked up a lot of his yards by running well after the catch (82 YAC). But he also deflected a pass at the goal line that went for an interception. — Adam Teicher
Next game: atSan Francisco 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, Oct. 20)
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Joe Buck recounts Khalen Saunders’ Taylor Swift connection moments before wild INT
Joe Buck had just finished referencing Khalen Saunders’ brother’s connection to Taylor Swift as the big man picks off Patrick Mahomes in the end zone.
With 9:38 left in the fourth quarter, Carr threw up a deep pass to wide receiver Mason Tipton on fourth down and got up slowly after it fell incomplete. He walked off the field clutching his hip, was evaluated in the injury tent and went to the locker room with an oblique injury, capping a night for the Saints that went from bad to worse.
The Saints fell to the Chiefs after entering Monday night with a lengthy list of injuries. They needed to play a perfect game to match up with the Chiefs’ offense. Instead, New Orleans fell into an early deficit after Carr threw an ugly interception six plays into the game, setting the Chiefs up for their first touchdown.
Although the Saints had some big moments, such as a 43-yard touchdown pass from Carr to wideout Rashid Shaheed, they couldn’t muster the offensive output from their first two weeks, losing their third game in a row.
Pivotal play: The big-man pick. Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders had a number of friends and family in attendance to see him play his former team, including his brother Kameron, who is a backup dancer for Taylor Swift. The moves clearly run in family, as Saunders caught a one-handed interception in the end zone and ran it back 37 yards in the third quarter.
Troubling trend: Cornerback Paulson Adebo’s penalties. Adebo had a late-game pass interference penalty against the Falcons last week that led to the game-winning field goal. He had another troubling late PI flag against the Chiefs that almost led to a touchdown late in the third quarter. Adebo’s seven penalties are tied for fourth most in the league.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Saints couldn’t run the ball efficiently behind an injury-hampered offensive line. The Saints’ offense has worked best this season when they’re able to run the ball at will. They weren’t able to do that with any consistency against the Chiefs, relying instead on low-percentage deep passes to try to move the ball. Carr attempted nine passes with 15-plus air yards tonight. He was 2-of-9 for 64 yards with an interception and a touchdown on those plays.
QB Breakdown: Carr was up-and-down until he left with his injury, finishing 18-of-28 for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Jake Haener entered the game in his absence for his first true snaps this season, finishing 2-of-7 for 17 yards — Katherine Terrell
Next game: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Second-year quarterback Jake Haener played the final possession.
With the Saints using a makeshift offensive line, running back Alvin Kamara could only manage 26 yards on 11 carries. Receiver Rashid Shaheed had a big night with four catches for 86 yards including a 43-yard touchdown catch in the first half.
Mahomes was 28 of 39 for 331 yards and one interception. Defensive end Chase Young and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee had the Saints’ sacks. The Chiefs, who dominated time of possession, amassed more than 400 yards of offense but were forced to kick four field goals. Running back Kareem Hunt had 102 yards on 27 carries and tight end Travis Kelce had nine catches for 70 yards.
The Saints lost safety Will Harris to a hamstring injury in the first half and center Lucas Patrick, playing in place of starter Erik McCoy, left in the second half with a collarbone injury but returned.
The Saints will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.
