By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints needed a win after a long, arduous seven-game losing streak, and they got it. While the defense was the unit to close out the victory on the final drive, it was the offense that led the way through most of the game. It wasn’t perfect, but the Saints did enough to manage adversity and come out on top against the rival Atlanta Falcons.
Here are the highest and lowest ranked players in Pro Football Focus grades from the win (minimum 15 snaps):
Top 5:
RT Trevor Penning – 92.7
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling – 92.1
QB Derek Carr 77.3
RG Cesar Ruiz – 77.1
TE+ Taysom Hill – 74.0
Penning was solid as a protector allowing just one of the five pressures surrendered by the Saints protection in the win. He has more than halved last year’s pressure rate allowed in his shift to right tackle so far this season. Per Next Gen Stats, Penning surrendered an 18.2 percent pressure rate at left tackle last year. This year, he entered Sunday’s game allowing pressure on just 7.4 percent of his pass blocking reps. His one pressure on 27 snaps as a pass blocker will only help that number. He was also graded highly in the run game, earning his highest run blocker grade (94.7) of his career.
Valdes-Scantling had himself a game. Three catches on three targets for 109 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown catches is an impressive stat line. He was not targeted in the second half, however he will gain a lot of praise for his willingness as a blocker in the third and fourth quarters when the offense was looking to protect its lead. Valdes-Scantling was brought in to be a deep threat, and he proved his ability on Sunday.
Carr had a great game against Atlanta. Like everything else, it wasn’t perfect, but it was more than enough. Completing 64 percent of his passes, he threw two touchdowns and no interceptions, while the Falcons defense registered one single pass breakup. He had a big-time throw percentage of 12 percent along with a turnover-worthy percentage of zero. The bottom line for Carr’s day is that he didn’t put the ball in harms way and allowed his playmakers to make plays. Were it not for one off-target throw to tight end Foster Moreau and a holding penalty on an 88-yard catch and run by Hill, Carr’s day would have looked even better.
Ruiz topped the game as a pass blocker. He allowed no pressures and held up very well on the interior. He is a much needed boost for an offensive line that has struggled with health and production in that area. New Orleans could be getting starting center Erik McCoy back next week against the Cleveland Browns, in which case Ruiz’s play will become even more valuable and supported.
Hill’s day started off with that aforementioned 88-yard catch and run for a touchdown being called back. However, he still made good on his heavier workload than previous games. While the Saints could certainly have leaned on him a bit more out of the backfield, he was still an active focus in the game. While the catch didn’t result in a score, it still registered as a chunk play. He also contributed a pair of first downs throughout the matchup while picking up the majority of his 14 rushing yards after contact.
Bottom 5:
DE Cameron Jordan – 46.9
DT John Ridgeway III – 40.6
DT Nathan Shepherd – 39.8
CB Alontae Taylor – 36.9
DT Khalen Saunders – 29.5
The defensive line was not highly-favored by Pro Football Focus this week. And understandably so. While Jordan and fellow defensive ends Chase Young and Payton Turner all notched sacks in big moments, the line still struggled to stop the run game allowing 181 total rushing yards to the Falcons. However, the line deserves a little more credit with reducing its losses at the line of scrimmage. The Saints’ defensive line became notorious for allowing yards before contact because of a lack of push at the snap. Over the last few weeks, they’ve done much better in that category and perhaps helped limit what could have been an even bigger day on the ground for Atlanta.
It’s no mystery that Taylor struggled in this one. He was registered by Pro Football Focus as being the closest defender on 7 targets, in which all 7 were caught for 115 receiving yards. One of those plays, a 33-yard reception by Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney, he was in primary coverage and good position, however could not come up with the pass breakup. Taylor was in zone for 75% of his passes, in man coverage he was only targeted twice, but is credited with allowing both to be caught for 52 total yards. He’ll continue to readjust after being moved back to the outside and there is a lot of confidence in the building that doing so will not be an issue though it will take time.
