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Game balls from a frustrating Saints overseas loss to Pittsburgh
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- Game balls from a frustrating Saints overseas loss to Pittsburgh
NFL history was made on Sunday when the New Orleans Saints met the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris, France. Unfortunately for the Saints, they repeated their own abysmal recent history in falling to the Steelers by a 16-10 score. The Saints got off to yet another slow start, falling behind 3-0 and failing to score at all again in the first quarter. As the game progressed, the inability of New Orleans to either run the ball or stop the run was on embarrassing display.
Pittsburgh rushed for 148 yards and converted 10 of 16 third down attempts. Meanwhile, the Saints ran for a laughable 18 yards on 17 attempts and squandered two scoring chances in the second half to seal their fate. As New Orleans fell to 2-5, here were their only bright spots of their trip overseas.
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Game Ball: Chase Young and Carl Granderson
New Orleans did hold the Steelers to 16 points. But, this was also not a very good Pittsburgh offense. The only Saints defenders that rose to the occasion on this day were once again Young and Granderson at edge rusher. Each had 1.5 sacks, providing the only significant pressure on Aaron Rodgers on the afternoon. Neither were able to do much against the Steelers run game, but both did have a couple additional pressures to their official sacks. Young brought his season sack total to 7, with elite production of 16.5 sacks in his last 17 games. Granderson now has 5.5 sacks on the year, with 1.5 takedowns in each of the last three contests.
Game Ball: Tyler Shough
Yes, Shough threw a costly interception inside the Pittsburgh 10-yard line. It wasn't an awful decision or throw, but a tad better accuracy to Chris Olave on the outside could have resulted in a touchdown or at least saved the possession. Otherwise, Shough again showed both skill and grit to give his team a chance at victory. He completed 30 of his 38 throws for 278 yards and a score.
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Shough found nine different receivers on the day, his most of the year. On third downs, Shough was 10 of 11 for 97 yards with an additional gutty run for 5 yards while accounting for seven first downs and a touchdown. The Saints have loads of issues with talent, execution, game-planning, and coaching. Quarterback is at least one position where New Orleans is at least as good as nearly anyone in the league.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Game balls from a frustrating Saints overseas loss to Pittsburgh
