Did You Notice…New Orleans Saints @ Cincinnati Bengals

Did you notice the Saints got back to using receiver Robert Meachem as a deep threat which is not something they have done much this season.

Meachem was used almost exclusively on deep routes during the Saints Super Bowl season and was among tops in the league in the yards per reception category in 2009.

Yesterday against the Bengals he averaged 35.3 yards per reception catching three passes for 106 yards and one touchdown.

Did you notice Drew Brees connected on 24 of 29 passes for an 82.8 percent completion rate and in his last five games he has averaged 321 passing yards a game.

He also set two new NFL records in a five year span for a quarterback Sunday, most yards and most three hundred yard pass games.

Allot has been made of the seasons Philip Rivers and Michael Vick have put together which has thrown their names into the hat for consideration for the league MVP.

Brees performance as of late should garner that same attention as his numbers are just as good, if not better, and he has guided the Saints to a better record than the Chargers and Eagles both.

Undrafted rookie running back Chris Ivory continues to get better and better as the season progresses. Against the Bengals he rushed for 117 yards, averaged 7.8 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns.

Did you notice Ivory has now rushed for a rookie best 636 yards this season which, as mentioned, is higher than every running back taken in the draft this year.

Penalties killed the Saints against the Bengals surrendering 100 yards on eleven penalties primarily of the holding kind.

Did you noticce Pro bowl gurads Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks were constantly caught holding and Evans is now the most penalized guard in the NFL.

Brees was sacked twice and the entire offensive line struggled mightily against the Bengals defensive line throughout the contest and although still an elite unit their form has been questioned at times this season.

Did you notice that kicker Garrett Hartley once again had a perfect game booting field two fields goals and four extra points without so much as a hiccup.

Hartley drew harsh criticism after opening the season four of seven on field goals attempts including a huge 24 yard miss against the Falcons in week three.

If he would have made that kick the Saints would be first in the NFC South with a 10-2 record, not the Falcons.

Check out Keith Null’s weekly article about the Saints on NFL.com by clicking here.

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