DEFENSE: Sixteen games into the 17-game season, the Saints still miss far too many tackles and blow too many defensive assignments and the fact that those two problems remain is a siren-blaring issue. Before Sunday, the Raiders were the worst running team in the league at 77.5 rushing yards per game; against the Saints, they gained 156 on 38 carries and running back Ameer Abdullah gained a career-high 115 on 20 carries. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell wasn’t great but he was more than effective enough, completing 20 of 35 for 242 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. The Raiders were successful on 10 of 18 third-down attempts and the defense was on the field for six scoring drives, two of which went 60 yards on 17 plays (field goal, lasted 9:11), and 95 yards on nine plays (touchdown, lasted 3:24). In the locker room after the game Saints players sounded weary of having to address the same issues, but they understood questions will be asked when a couple of glaringly persistent issues remain with four quarters remaining in the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Dante Pettis had a 21-yard punt return that was nice, Blake Grupe kicked a 34-yard field goal and three of Matthew Hayball’s seven punts were downed inside the 20. But the best play was submitted by special team ace J.T. Gray, who as a gunner on punt cover, raced down the right sideline and batted one of Hayball’s bouncing punts out of the air before it could land in the end zone. The ball then was downed at the 5.
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