After the New Orleans Saints’ big win against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Kellen Moore gave out a series of game balls. The final one went to safety Julian Blackmon who had the game-sealing interception at the end of the matchup.
As he gifted the final recognition of the game, he made mention of something the Saints are always in pursuit of, a chance for a “no más.”
“This is the opportunity we want at the end of the day,” said Moore. “A chance to be a no más. One interception. No más. Julian Blackmon.”
He then tossed the ball to Blackmon who was given the honor of breaking down the huddle to wrap up the locker room celebration. While the moment felt final, the curiosity behind “no más” is for the team remained.
After speaking with the safety in the locker room during day-after availability, he explained it simply.
“No más means ‘no more’ in Spanish,” he said. “When you get an interception and there’s no time left for the other team, just get down. I was looking at the clock to see how much I could try to run off, but they had no timeouts, so just get down.”
It’s every team’s hope to be in control at the end of the game. Saints players described additional instances, including running for or catching a game-sealing first down when the defense has no timeouts. In that situation, it’s most wise to go down, don’t risk a turnover, and let the offense run the clock out in victory formation on a series of kneel downs.
It’s not a Saints-specific notion, either. It’s one shared across the league. Rookie cornerback T.J. Hall Jr indicated that, although it can often be referred to something different, the concept was one he was familiar with from college.
Moore confirmed the definition at his day-after press conference, adding his own explanation.
“It’s mostly for a defense, but offense as well,” he said. “If you have the game in hand, create a turnover, you want to go down immediately. There’s no reason to run around and potentially have someone take the ball away from you and now they have an opportunity to extend the game. Good play by Julian. He caught it, he went right down. No más. No more.”
