Saints controlled the game in one specific area vs. Seahawks
The New Orleans Saints are back on the right track after a very close win over the Seattle Seahawks. The win was way too close for comfort, but a win is a win nonetheless. The Saints are now 2-3, as the season didn't start quite the way they wanted it to. Now, they have momentum […]
The New Orleans Saints are back on the right track after a very close win over the Seattle Seahawks. The win was way too close for comfort, but a win is a win nonetheless.
The Saints are now 2-3, as the season didn't start quite the way they wanted it to. Now, they have momentum on their side, and could potentially win the next few games and jump into first place in the division, if all goes right.
All they need to do is replicate the game plan from Sunday's game against the Seahawks, and use that from here on out. But, what exactly did they do? Well, head coach Dennis Allen explained the biggest reason he thought they won the game.
"I thought a huge factor of the game was time of possession," Allen said. "And so, how do you maintain time of possession? You are effective and efficient on first and second down, getting yourself into third and manageable situations, and the run game is a huge part of that. And then obviously, defensively, being able to get off of the field on third downs. So, I thought the time of possession was huge in the game, and certainly, our ability to run the ball was a big part of that."
The Saints most definitely dominated the time of possession battle, by nearly 15 minutes, which is huge. The time of possession battle was 37:35 to 22:25, in the Saints' favor. In other words, they kept the ball out of the Seahawks' hands, which is very good, for a few reasons.
For one, if the Saints have the ball, what exactly does that mean? It means the Seahawks don't, which means the only way they could score is a defensive touchdown. And, with the way Seahawks quarterback, Geno Smith has been playing, you want the ball out of his hands.
Secondly, if the ball is in the Saints' hands more, that means there are more opportunities for New Orleans to score. This offense has the weapons to do so, too.
I think this is the perfect recipe for success for this team. They have Alvin Kamara, one of the best running backs in the league, so, why not use him to help the time-of-possession battle? They should do that more often this season.
Featured Image Via Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
