Saints 19 Browns 14

Things

• It would have been a real shame to let the Browns get away with stealing this one. They almost did. I've been to too many of these rodeos to feel good about a team completely dominating a first half and having only three field goals to show for it. The Saints almost let Cleveland win a game they didn't deserve. The Browns played like utter garbage for most of the game committing penalties and turnovers when they could least afford to. The Saints might have let them get away with it.. had it not been for one more stupid trunover at the end.



Josh "Never Mind The" Bullocks saves the day. Must be the jersey number.



• It turns out that not only can you fit two star players in the same backfield.. but you probably should. I have to hand it to Payton here. He took maximum advantage of Bush and Deuce's talents to keep the Browns guessing throughout the game.



• Having said that, I find it hard to watch Bush. He looks... really really little and fragile out there. It makes me wince every time he takes a hit. It's so bad sometimes that I really wonder if he'll last three years.



He's pretty good.. but he's itty bitty (T-P photo)

• The re-vamped defense held together well and played over its head to help those field goals stand up as long as they did. Remember, though, the defense also held together and played over its head in last year's opener... the only occasion on which it did so all season.



• I don't care what Donte Stallworth did for the Eagles this week, the Saints are better off with Marques Colston.



TD tally after Week 1: Colston 1 Stallworth 1 My money's on Colston


• Brees's arm did not fall off. But I still question the wisdom of keeping only two quarterbacks on the roster.


Umm.. sure you don't want to rest that shoulder, Drew?


• Like I said yesterday, it's a three game season. If they play like this again they can beat Green Bay setting up a Monday night home opener with a 2-0 record. If they do that they can take the rest of the year off.

Note: All game photos shamelessly stolen from NOLA.com where there is much more.