I have read a lot about how the Saints game was lost once Brady threw that first INT. For example the Patriots daily stated "The result was Brady’s first pick, a quick Saints TD and ultimately, the end of the game." Even after that score it was 7-10 Saints. This idea we lost after the INT is dumb. Two moments killed the Pats in theis game.
1) The missed FG before half. Had the Pats got this the score at half would have been 13-24. Missing it changed the out look more than we all knew at the time.
2) More importantly, the game was "lost" in my mind on the Saints first possesion of the second half, Pats take the 2nd half kick off, drive the filed for a TD and make it a 17-24 game. Next Saints possesion - 3 plays, 74 yrds and a TD. 17-31. Pats drive down the field, stall out and go for it on 4-4 at the 10 and come up empty. After the last Saints score the team acknowledged it would have to score TDs on every drive to win so they gave up on FGS. Had they kicked a FG it would have been 20-31, but 3s were not good enough with Brees tossing bombs left and right.
The rest of the game was completely down hill
1) The missed FG before half. Had the Pats got this the score at half would have been 13-24. Missing it changed the out look more than we all knew at the time.
2) More importantly, the game was "lost" in my mind on the Saints first possesion of the second half, Pats take the 2nd half kick off, drive the filed for a TD and make it a 17-24 game. Next Saints possesion - 3 plays, 74 yrds and a TD. 17-31. Pats drive down the field, stall out and go for it on 4-4 at the 10 and come up empty. After the last Saints score the team acknowledged it would have to score TDs on every drive to win so they gave up on FGS. Had they kicked a FG it would have been 20-31, but 3s were not good enough with Brees tossing bombs left and right.
The rest of the game was completely down hill