Page 21 - aruba-today-20190911

A21
SPORTS Wednesday 11 september 2019

Lutz’s 58-yard field goal lifts Saints over Texans, 30-28

By BRETT MARTEL seven-catch, 101-yard
AP Sports Writer night was highlighted by
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew his 41-yard reception deep
Brees and Wil Lutz supplied down field at the 2-minute
the accuracy and poise warning.
New Orleans needed to Alvin Kamara had 169 yards
overcome another officiat- from scrimmage, including
ing gaffe and its defense’s an 11-yard run set up the
late collapse. first score of the final minute
Lutz made a 58-yard field on Lutz’s 47-yard kick.
goal as time expired, and Watson completed 20 of
the Saints beat the Houston 30 passes for 268 yards and
Texans 30-28 on Monday three touchdowns — two
night in a game that had of them to DeAndre Hop-
three scoring plays in the kins. Watson also ran for a
final minute. 21-yard score on a fourth-
“That one’s got to be a down play.
top-one moment for me,” The Texans finished with 180
Lutz said, adding that as yards rushing — 68 yards
much as he tries to treat more than the Saints al-
each kick the same, “I got lowed in any game last
to be honest. That one felt season — with Carlos Hyde
a little different.” rushing for 83 yards and
New Orleans had lost its New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz (3) kicks a 58 yard field goal as Thomas Morstead (6) holds, at Duke Johnson 57.
previous five season open- the end of regulation, in the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Linebacker Whitney Merci-
ers. And after last season New Orleans, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. lus intercepted Brees deep
ended with a bitter loss in Associated Press in Texans territory and also
the NFC title game, the Ginn Jr., an 11-yarder to Mi- field goal try that Lutz nar- curred when replay review had Houston’s only sack.
Saints had expressed ur- chael Thomas and another rowly missed. officials stopped the game The Saints, by contrast, had
gency to start the 2019 pass to Ginn for 9 yards in The Saints came back from with 26 seconds left in the six sacks of Watson, two by
campaign well. quick succession. That al- an 11-point, third-quarter first half to determine if reserve end Trey Hendrick-
“I knew how big this win lowed New Orleans to save hole to win anyway, but Thomas’ catch was long son.
would be,” Lutz said. its final timeout until just 2 Brees wasn’t letting the of- enough for a first down af- PASS PROTECTION
The moment the ball left seconds remained and set ficials or the league off the ter he was initially marked Saints right tackle Ryan
Lutz’s foot, punter Thomas up Lutz’s career-long kick. hook. just short. After the review Ramczyk and the offensive
Morstead, who holds on “When you have Drew “That can’t happen. That’s resulted in a first down, offi- line kept 2018 AFC sack
field goals, turned toward as your quarterback, all I a game changer,” Brees cials called for a 10-second leader J.J. Watt from get-
his kicker, triumphantly flex- cared about was getting said. “If we had 15 more runoff to begin from when ting to Brees.
ing both arms at his side. ready for the kick, because seconds, are you kidding the game was stopped, “We didn’t do a good job
Moments later, the crowd I knew with 37 seconds left me?” not when Thomas came of stopping the run and
noise in the Superdome there was going to be a The 40-year-old Brees com- down with the ball 15 sec- we didn’t do a good job
reached an ear-splitting chance,” Lutz said. pleted 32 of 43 passes, mir- onds earlier. of stopping the pass,” Watt
crescendo as the ball split Had the Saints lost, it would roring his NFL-record 74.4 Brees animatedly disputed said, adding that he felt his
the uprights and Saints have marked the second completion percentage the decision, which left the unit let Watson and the Tex-
players jubilantly streamed straight game in the Super- last season. Saints just 16 seconds to ans offense down.
onto the field. dome in which a league- One of his TD passes went work with from their own 47. INJURIES
Deshaun Watson threw a acknowledged officiating to reserve QB and utility After the game, NFL vice Saints safety Marcus Wil-
37-yard touchdown pass mistake worked against player Taysom Hill, who also president of officiating Al liams, who had a momen-
to ex-Saints receiver Ken- New Orleans. In last sea- subs in as a tight end or slot Riveron said: “We should tum-swinging interception
ny Stills with 37 seconds son’s NFC championship receiver. The other went to have reset it to 41 (sec- in the third quarter, stayed
left, capping a two-play, game, missed pass interfer- second-year pro Tre’Quan onds), not 26, and then down on a knee after
75-yard drive that put the ence and helmet-to-hel- Smith. ultimately to 31 (seconds) Johnson’s 32-yard run in
Texans in front after they met contact fouls against “Playing on the road after the 10-second runoff.” the fourth quarter. He left
began their final possession the Los Angeles Rams went against a great quar- Fans in the Superdome, the field on his own after
down by six with 50 sec- uncalled in the final min- terback like Drew Brees, who won’t soon forget last a trainer briefly spoke with
onds left. utes. This time, a botched you’ve got to be able to year’s officiating gaffes, him.
But that left just enough time ruling left the Saints with 15 put the game away,” Wat- booed during the runoff UP NEXT
for Brees, who capped a fewer seconds to run their son said. “We had the op- and after Lutz’s long miss. Texans: Hosts Jacksonville
370-yard, two-touchdown hurry-up offense at the end portunities.” STAT LINES on Sunday.
performance by complet- of the first half. New Orleans CLOCK QUESTIONS Thomas caught 10 passes Saints: Visit the Los Angeles
ing a 15-yard pass to Ted had to settle for a 56-yard The officiating mistake oc- for 123 yards, and Ginn’s Rams on Sunday.q