Quick Thoughts – Week 11

Here are some quick thoughts on the Saints 30-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in K.C.

• The Saints didn’t look pretty at times but they came out of Arrowhead with a victory, and thats sorely what the team needed. They played a poor team in the Chiefs today but did what they had to do in defeating them. Every week, considering the Saints record, is a must-win in the NFC for the rest of the season.
• Deuce McAllister is very close to being entirely out of the teams’ plans. Deuce, to me, always seemed like the guy who got better with a heavier workload and it seems like that just isn’t going to happen anymore under Sean Payton. Saints fan seem to be upset over this, feeling Deuce deserves better, but considering Deuce’s character its hard to imagine Payton doing this to spite him. He has to see something in practice and in the games that makes him feel Deuce is not worthy of receiving a heavier workload.
• Pierre Thomas played big today. He ran hard and quick and gave the team its biggest rushing performance of the season, turning in 88 yards on 16 carries. I am really skeptical on how the running back situation plays out. With Reggie Bush close to coming back from a knee injury, how will the touches be divided up?
• The defense was not good, but they didn’t break. That is all the team really needs out of them to be competitive in every game. They held the Chiefs to a a pair of field goals when it appeared as if they were going in for seven.
• Jonathan Vilma had his cape on when he dove for Larry Johnson around the goal line. I was really expecting him to tear his jersey and show a Superman shirt underneath after he made the tackle.
• A game ball has to go out to Jeff Charleston, who has been thrown into the fire with the depth issues at defensive end. The second year player out of Idaho State recorded two huge sacks, which set the Chiefs back.
• Next week, the Saints return home to host the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, in what is going to be another must-win game.