The New Orleans Saints snapped a seven-game skid in Darren Rizzi's debut as interim head coach, topping the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, 20-17, on Sunday.
Rizzi said the much-needed result was the product of a team buying into the process which followed a tumultuous week that began with the firing of Dennis Allen.
"What an unbelievable week," Rizzi said postgame. "As I just said to the players, this doesn't happen -- today doesn't happen -- without a complete buy-in from the building. You guys have all reported about all the changes and that's all well and good, but the buy-in, the execution and the preparation -- I just told those guys, nothing substitutes good preparation, and we had such a good practice week."
The Saints got off to a hot start, scoring 17 points in three of their first four possessions of the first half. Even in the lone drive that didn't end in points, the Saints offense still managed to make a statement, marching 93 yards downfield on their opening possession. Although that drive would end in a turnover on downs six yards away from the goal line, Rizzi's squad certainly showed they were ready to play.
Derek Carr led the way completing 16 of 25 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. On the receiving end of those two scores was New Orleans' newest Saint, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who finished with three catches for 109 yards. Star running back Alvin Kamara totaled 109 scrimmage yards (55 rushing) in his usual role of motoring the Saints offense, and also became the franchise's all-time leader in rushing yards in the process.
But the unit struggled to find its footing in the second half, scoring just three points in the only possession which entered Falcons territory in the final two quarters. That allowed the Falcons to get back in the game following a 10-point surge to begin the second half, but that's when the Saints defense rose to the occasion.
Tyrann Mathieu came away with huge interception of Kirk Cousins to halt a drive with 1:59 to play. Atlanta managed to force a quick three-and-out to get the ball back, but the Saints stifled the Falcons as time ran out on their final drive of the game.
"I couldn't be more proud," Rizzi said. "As I just said to the team, I've been around a long time -- college and NFL a long time -- I've never been more proud of a group the way that they handled everything. Because when things are uncomfortable, it's easy -- its's easy say cash it in, and no one did that this week."
The Saints' energetic play on Sunday isn't an unusual disposition from a team that lost its head coach earlier in the week. What was certainly different -- and refreshing -- for the Saints was the intensity emanating from the New Orleans crowd, which might have played a role in Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo missing three field goals in the loss.
Rizzi did his best to join Saints players in the on-field celebration. Seen visibly hampered by something physically, Rizzi explained that Payton Turner hit him in the wrong place on his back and his left arm went "completely numb," due in part to his history of stingers. It was an odd ending to an otherwise fantastic Sunday for New Orleans, but it didn't top Rizzi's explanation of how his first game at the helm commenced.
"This is how my day started," Rizzi said. "I get down to the Superdome. I go in the head coach's locker room, which I've never used before. So here I am, early in the morning, I go to the bathroom. This is how my day started. I clogged the toilet. I'm like, 'This is gonna be a crappy day' -- pun intended."
Thankfully for him, the Superdome staff and everyone else, really, Rizzi's debut didn't end the way it began. The Saints (3-7) will hope to keep the good times rolling next week when they host the Cleveland Browns (2-7).
