New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals: Key Match-Ups to Watch
By Bob Rose
Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians talk after the game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Saints head coach Sean Payton vs. Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians
Saints head coach Sean Payton and Cardinals head man-in-charge Bruce Arians are among the most brilliant and top offensive minds in the game.
However, each man is under scrutiny from their team’s fan bases for the performance of the very thing they are best known for: a mountain of turnovers, poor pass protection and failure to produce points at the rate needed for their respective teams to be successful.
Next: New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals: 5 Bold Predictions
The Saints offense has come under fire in 3 of the last 4 games for not producing. The New Orleans defense, long criticized for being an anchor on the team’s chances for victory, has only surrendered an average of about 23 points per game over the last 8 contests; yet the Saints record over those games is only 3-5.
Over the last nine quarters of play, the Saints wide receivers have actually thrown for more touchdowns (one) than their future Hall of Fame QB has. The 4th quarter touchdown pass from WR Willie Snead to Tim Hightower against the LA Rams is the last time the New Orleans offense has scored through the air.
In the two games since then, Brees has thrown six interceptions with ZERO passing scores, and only ONE offensive touchdown in total.
The disappointment of each club’s record is of course the fault of numerous factors and people, which fairly or unfairly often points at that teams man in charge.
But the fact that Payton and Arians each are offensive “gurus”, and it’s been those respective offensive units of theirs that have failed to meet expectations; that perhaps is the most surprising disappointment for each team.
The offense that manages to sabotage themselves LESS will come out of the Arizona desert with a victory — with the game’s loser likely to face almost deafening criticism from their fan base until the season finally (and mercifully) comes to an end……….