Fazende: Five takes from Saints win over Browns

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Take One: Ugly victory over moral victory

In week one in Detroit, the Saints took the Lions to overtime but lost on a missed two-point conversion.That loss was viewed as a moral victory.

On Sunday in the Superdome, the Saints took the Browns to overtime and won on a missed two-point conversion.That win could qualify as an ‘ugly victory.’

Now eight games into the season, which one of those options would you prefer?

The answer is quite simple: In the NFL, it’s ugly victory over moral victory any day of the week.

The Saints are now 3-5 after a wild one against Cleveland.

Take Two: Estime Arrives

Kellen Moore made a couple of bold moves this week in hopes of reviving the Saints dormant run game. He fired run game coordinator TJ Paganetti, signed Audric Estime and released Kendre Miller the day before the game.

For one week, those moves appear to have paid off. The team finished with the second highest rushing total of the season with 160 yards with Estime leading the way.

He was a beast on Sunday, and the Saints wasted no time in getting him involved by handing the ball off to him on the first three plays of the game. Estime finished with 72 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. He also brought a physical brand to the ground game and never seemed to go down at first contact.

It was a mistake to lose Estime the first time around with that injury settlement after preseason. Now that he’s back, he deserves to keep getting opportunities.

Take Three: Clutch Shough

Tyler Shough played his best when it mattered most Sunday. It wasn’t his best overall game, but he excelled in crucial moments.

On the final two offensive drives of the game. Shough led the team to two touchdown drives and went 8/11 and a touchdown pass. His best throw during that sequence came on a 33-yard dart to Chris Olave on a corner route that helped set up the initial go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.

Shough was equally as clutch using his legs and got the offense out of several jams by scrambling. At the 6:25 mark of the fourth quarter on a 3rd & 18 from the Browns 38, Shough was nearly sacked out of field goal range but was able to break free and rush for eight yards. That run allowed Charlie Smyth to hit a much more manageable 48-yard field goal attempt to give the Saints a 9-6 lead.

In overtime, the Saints faced a 1st & 20 after a holding call. Shough was able to break free on a scramble to gain eight to get almost all of the lost yardage back. Two plays later, on 3rd & 4, Shough connected with Juwan Johnson on a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Shough was not perfect Sunday. However, when his team needed him most he delivered with both his arm and legs .

Take Four: Explosives ruin sack party

The Saints sacked Shedeur Sanders five times Sunday and gave up just 95 yards rushing. That’s usually a formula for success.

But on Sunday it almost was not due to their inability to prevent big plays.

There were four of them that gave the Saints problems.

Sanders hit Dre Boston for 60-yards in the third quarter that set up a field goal. In the fourth, right after the Saints took that 9-6 lead, Sanders found K.C. Concepcion for a 64-yard touchdown. On the final drive of regulation, Sanders hit Jerry Jeudy on the sideline for a 30-yard dart that set up the game-tying field goal. In overtime, Sanders hit Harold Fannin on a short throw. Fannin then broke two tackles and rumbled in for a 39-yard score that nearly cost the Saints the game.

All in all it was a decent game for the defense, but allowing these types of huge plays almost turned this win into a loss.

Take Five: Other Observations

• The Saints were moving the ball at will in the first half. On their first three drives they got in scoring position but only scored three points due to self-inflicted wounds. Charlie Smyth missed a 52-yard field goal, while Jordyn Tyson fumbled on his first career catch near the goal line. 
• Speaking of Tyson, he did a nice job of moving on from that mistake. He finished with four receptions for 30 yards and had key third down conversion on a reception on the final drive of regulation. 
• Granderson said after the game that he felt like Sanders laughing about a question about the Saints defense was disrespectful. Sanders said he wasn’t talking down to Saints by smiling. 
• Granderson and Chase Young are forming a very underrated edge pass rushing duos. The pair have combined for 15 sacks on the season.
• On the Saints first half goal line stand, it appeared Kristian Boyd had the initial push to prevent the touchdown.  
• Barion Brown has been the Saints most productive rookie this season. He had a big catch from Shough early in the game. However, he got a little too out of control on a second quarter punt return and fumbled the ball away. 
• Kool- Aid McKinstry came up with teh PBU on the final two-point conversion play to seal the game. However, the play would not have counted even if the Browns caught it, Granderson was held on the play. 

- Big NFC South showdown next week as the Saints will host the struggling Carolina Panthers.

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