Sports - New Orleans Saints

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Unbeaten Saints look for edge

In layman’s terms, it’s known as a trap game, when one football team is cruising along and a seemingly inferior opponent emerges from the wilderness at the right time and perhaps more important the right place.

The Miami Dolphins are hoping their home stadium will be that place.

The timing of the Dolphins’ game today with the unbeaten New Orleans Saints probably couldn’t be much better.

The Saints (5-0) have never trailed this season and torched one of the NFL’s premier defenses last week, rolling past the New York Giants 48-27 in the Louisiana Superdome. Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed 15 consecutive passes at one point and wound up throwing for a season-high 369 yards and four touchdowns.

The Dolphins are 2-3 and have beaten two of their AFC East rivals, the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. Their offense is predicated on controlling the clock, running the football (often out of the unconventional Wildcat offense) and keeping things simple for second-year quarterback Chad Henne.

“I think the early downs are important, obviously, for both teams,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. You have to manage the third-down situations and stay out of the third-and-longs. This is a real good team, we think, very good running the football.

“It’s a big challenge for us, defensively.”

One of the keys to the Saints’ success has been Brees’ ability to get the ball to different receivers. Marques Colston was clearly a thorn in the Giants’ side, coming up with eight receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown. Short but shifty Lance Moore returned to the lineup from injury and had six catches for 78 yards and a score.

And former LSU star Devery Henderson, perhaps the Saints’ best deep threat, has become more consistent. The Saints have been able to find an offensive rhythm most of the time this season and are getting more done with the running game.

“I don’t think you want to try to get into a scoring contest with these people,” Dolphins coach Tony Sporano said. “We’ve got to do something to not let the candy store be open.”

The Dolphins run the 3-4 defensive scheme favored by team executive Bill Parcells and have proven veterans such as linebackers Jason Taylor and Joey Porter. Their pass rush has been shaky, however, which could play right into the Saints’ hands.