NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints scored on their first drive Sunday, much as they had in their surprisingly high-scoring first two games of the season.
Nothing else about their 15-12 loss to Philadelphia looked anything like what happened in their blowout wins against Carolina and Dallas, when their offense looked virtually unstoppable and scored an NFL-high 91 points under new coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Limited to 12 first downs while being outgained 460 yards to 219, the Saints led the Eagles most of the way thanks to their opportunistic defense before being done in by Saquon Barkley’s touchdown with 1:01 left.
“You knew adversity would happen at some point,” said Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who threw a second-down interception in the final minute that sealed the result. “It’s not going to be that easy all the time.”
For New Orleans, it was a tough go most of the way.
After scoring on their first nine series against Carolina and getting touchdowns the first six times they had the ball at Dallas, they nearly failed to score throughout the first three quarters.
Blake Grupe’s 34-yard field goal deflected off the right upright and over the crossbar to cap a 15-play opening possession. That was the only time New Orleans scored in the first 50 minutes.
Starting center Eric McCoy exited with a groin injury on the opening drive, and the offensive rhythm New Orleans displayed during two lopsided victories left soon after.
“It’s a big blow,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said of McCoy's departure. “He’s an important part to our offensive line and the way that we play up front. It was difficult to lose him and yet it’s part of the game and we’ve got to be able to step up and still play at an acceptable level when we lose a guy like that.”
With guard Lucas Patrick sliding to center and reserve Olisaemeka Udoh inserted at guard, Carr was sacked on the first play of the Saints’ second possession, setting the tone.
The Eagles held running back Alvin Kamara to 87 yards on 26 carries after the Saints piled up 370 yards rushing through their first two games. When the Saints handed the ball to Kamara on fourth-and-1 from the Eagles 18 on the first play of the fourth quarter, Philadelphia stopped the star running back just short.
Carr completed 14 of 25 passes for 142 yards with a long pass of 29 yards — in stark contrast to Weeks 1 and 2, when he threw for five touchdowns, including a 70-yarder and another that covered 59 yards.
“Their offense was rolling for two weeks, putting up a lot of points and a lot of yards with a lot of efficiency,” said Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose interception in the end zone and lost fumble in the first half did not end up costing the Eagles. “Our defense played a hell of a game.”
Grupe’s field goal with 9:49 left gave the Saints their first points since the opening drive, and Carr hit Chris Olave for a 12-yard touchdown to put New Orleans in front 12-7 at the 2:03 mark.
It just wasn't quite enough.
Hurts connected with tight end Dallas Goedert for a 63-yard catch to the New Orleans 4 when Saints safety Jordan Howden ran into cornerback Marshon Lattimore, forcing safety Will Harris to go around the two of them while chasing Goedert across the field.
Barkley scored the winning TD on the next play.
“Defensively, we just gave up too many explosive plays,” Allen said. “We made too many mistakes and when you play a good team and make mistakes, they take advantage of it.”
The last error came from Carr. He forced the ball downfield under pressure as the Saints tried to get in range for a tying field goal. Safety Reed Blankenship caught it just before it hit the ground.
“I wish I had just tried to skip it or get to the next play,” Carr said. “In that situation, with the clock and however many yards we needed to get, I tried to make that play for our team — and I didn’t.”
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