The New Orleans Saints weren't able to defend their home turf against the Las Vegas Raiders, losing their second game of the season. However, despite the tough L to swallow, not all was lost for the team in their home opener. Their run game finally showed some signs of life, with Travis Etienne, Alvin Kamara, and Kendre Miller able to combine for over 100 yards on the ground.
Ironically enough, it was quarterback Tyler Shough that got the run game going on a 36-yard scramble. Thankfully, his halfbacks took over that, doing the dirty work and getting the tough yards that led the team to scoring opportunities.
What's more is that even though the running backs didn't have any big plays in particular, they still got enough chunk yardage to force the Raiders defense to acknowledge them at least a little. That in turn allowed Kellen Moore to call some play-action plays, one of which even ended up in a touchdown. With the running game actually doing something for once, Shough and the offense looked the most comfortable they have all season.
The Saints' long-lost run game wasn't enough to get the win on Sunday
Etienne was the bell cow back until he got injured, gaining 57 yards on 13 carries. Kamara got his snaps once he went to the locker room but wasn't able to get the same play-action magic going that Etienne did. Although trying to play solid offense while your defense is acting like butter, which is how the Saints' defense was in the second half, is hard for anyone.
Even a productive ground attack can't win a team a game if the other side of the ball keeps giving up points. But even then, it still has to help control the clock and keep the defense rested. So when the defense is struggling, it would help if the halfbacks could average more than two yards a carry in the second half.
When they were moving the chains, the play-action game became a crucial part of the Saints' offense. With four passing touchdowns and no rushing TDs, it can be said that the team wouldn't have scored as much without the ground game. The run game's value on Sunday didn't show up in the box score, but in what it enabled.
With the news that Etienne is expected to have some "time lost," Moore will have to think of another way to bring signs of life to the running game. It really adds another level to the offense, and however he leans on them could very well decide the fait of the team on Monday night.
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