Saints Have Lost Their ‘Old Magic’ And Found Trouble

Drew Brees

Sep 20, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) on the bench in the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won, 23-19. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

After admitting that an oblique injury as well as another “mystery” injury caused the future Hall of Famer to develop “bad habits”, Brees seemed poised to regain his throne atop the elite passer mountain.

Instead he has posted a passer rating of 83.2 last week against the Arizona Cardinals and 80.5 today verses the Bucs.

Brees took a wicked hit during today’s game and got up shaking his throwing arm repeatedly in discomfort.

It was hit and miss the rest of the day as some passes seemed to just sail away in wobbly fashion and Brees admitted that the hit did cause issues on some downfield throws.

But even before the hit Brees didn’t seem comfortable and looked to be out of sync with his receivers much like during last week’s game.

This was something that has been foreign to many of us watching him through the years and it could get worse as the Saints face off against some formidable defenses left on the schedule.

Sep 20, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jacquies Smith (56) pressures New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Saints beat writer Larry Holder for NOLA.com said that at the post game press conference Brees looked more down than he’s ever seen him and his colleague Katherine Terrell said Brees admitted he had issues with his shoulder as recently as last year that affected him in games.

Is that the “mystery” injury he spoke of just recently?

Who knows but something else stuck out to me in his post game presser today when Brees was asked about the pass intercepted by safety Chris Conte intended for receiver Brandin Cooks.

He chuckled almost wistfully saying if he hadn’t under-thrown the ball it would have been a touchdown(Cooks was streaking down the sideline and had to actually slow down).

Usually those are the type of plays that Brees has lived for and now it seems they are the plays that are a killer.

Next: Lack of Attack