Indianapolis @ New Orleans: Sinners to become Saints in playoff push

Romilly Evans
16 December 2019

Life's a Brees: the Saints QB's comfort level in the Superdome should separate them on the match handicap

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As the battle intensifies for top seeding in the NFC, Romilly Evans expects Drew Brees to come to life as the Saints bid to secure postseason homefield advantage at the Superdome...

"After weeks of fumbling around in the dark, Sean Payton needs to find the switch and light up Alvin Kamara"

Start-time: Tuesday, 01:15
TV: Live on Sky Sports Action

A house of horrors awaits Brissett on the long rad to New Orleans

Both these teams are coming off recent defeats which could've adversely affected their postseason chances, albeit in different but nonetheless terminal ways. For, while the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) are now clinging to the thin thread of wildcard hope in a substandard AFC South, the New Orleans Saints (10-3), already qualified for the playoffs, appear to have blown their shot at a top seeding in the NFC, and perhaps even a first-round bye.

Although it will be of scant consolation, that key 46-48 defeat came at home last Sunday to the San Francisco 49ers in perhaps the game of the season so far (granted, the 49ers also fought out another nail-biting spellbinder against Seattle). Despite the loss, booking their homefield of the Superdome remains pivotal to their postseason chances.

If New Orleans win out and their better-placed NFC rivals succumb to some tough run-ins (Green Bay could certainly lose on the road to Minny, while the Hawks and the Niners must negotiate the perils of the ultra-competitive NFC West) then the chips could yet fall in their favour for the number-one or number-two seedings. Either scenario could secure the Superdome, and consequently vault them back into solo second-favouritism for the Super Bowl behind barnstorming Baltimore. And no team is more desperate to remedy the cruel cuts of last season, and that miscarriage of officiating justice more commonly referred to as The Flag That Never Flew. In short, the Saints won't lack for motivation to rediscover the winning habit, and perhaps ride it all the way to Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

Indianapolis, on the other hand, are starting to look like an outfit running out of puff and self-belief. Mathematical scenarios and one or two head-to-head records may still lend them a chance, but essentially they look lacklustre after early flashes of belief and brilliance from their back-up quarterback Jacoby Brissett. From the second Andrew Luck revealed the extent of his injury odyssey and surprisingly stepped down under center, though, Brissett has been up against it. He's defied the initial detractors but hasn't been able to sustain the pace of production, while his receiving corps have wilted in sympathy. Like Brissett, Markus Johnson and Zach Pascal may be the men of tomorrow, but not tonight. Elsewhere, Indy's superstar wideout, TY Hilton, is nursing a calf injury and remains a late game-time decision. Either way, he won't be running at full pelt, so it's hard to envisage the Colts maintaining stride with the Saints' juggernaut offense.

Brees and Kamara can bring the lightning back to the Thunderdome

There are no brakes on the muscle car that Drew Brees drives, as he goes careering through the collapsing scenery of rival offenses with little regard for their personal safety, invariably leaving their respective reputations in tatters. My lone caveat would be, given Brees' increasing propensity to air it out (349 yards for five touchdowns recently recorded against San Fran's staunch D), he's up against a capable takeaway defense this evening. They're led by linebacker Darius Leonard, who landed nine tackles with two interceptions last weekend alone, so turnovers are the only game-changing variable that I'm concerned about here.

Watch out for Alvin Kamara above all others. After weeks of fumbling around in the dark, Sean Payton needs to find the switch and light up his stud dual-purpose back. Case in point, Kamara was one of Brees' few offensive weapons to misfire against the Niners, getting clocked for just 25 yards off 13 carries, with a meagre 18 yards more through the air. Regardless, expect the 24-year old to carry the load and move the chains here, with his twin-threat abilities as both an adept poucher and a slithery tackle-breaker separating him from the powder-keg arsenal Brees has at his disposal.

On the other side of the ball, New Orleans are still bringing the heat with their death-or-glory defense. A split personality has defined them for the past couple of campaigns, so you're never quite sure which of their twin faces will show up any given Sunday, or Monday for that matter. Will it be the blitz-happy crew who harry rival quarterbacks, or the rushers who storm the castle only to realise the king's departed with the crown jewels moments earlier? With 43 sacks and an impressive 26.5% pressure-rate for hurrying opposing QBs, I'll sit back and trust that they can disrupt Brissett enough times to relieve any pressure on Brees' shoulders.

A raucous home crowd can do the rest. After all, the Saints have won 20 of their past 24 home games.