“I don’t know about the voodoo, but I definitely believe in destiny,’’ said Drew Brees, who led a no-timeout, 80-yard drive in just 33 seconds to tie the game late in regulation. “I believe in karma, and what goes around comes around. We’ve been on the other side of this deal probably too many times, and maybe it’s our time, that we start catching some of the breaks.’’
Catching the breaks? That sure explains how the Saints are now 12-0 with the NFC South title in hand. How else to explain a badly shanked punt that turns into a 29-yard gain, or an interception by Brees that somehow becomes a touchdown for teammate Robert Meachem?
“Crazy plays,’’ linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. “When you’re hot, you’re hot. And sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.’’
New Orleans also showed it can brave the cold, winning a sub-40-degree game for the first time since 1995. The defense, led by former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, offered minimal resistance, allowing Washington to pile up 455 yards and score 30 points for the first time in Jim Zorn’s 28 games as coach.
The biggest number for Washington (3-9) was three - as in the number of consecutive losses in which it has blown a fourth-quarter lead.
Asked if he thought there was any way his team could lose when leading convincingly in the fourth quarter, receiver Devin Thomas said: “There’s always a way possible - especially with our team.’’
So how did it happen? Leading, 30-23, the Redskins marched downfield and set up the gimme field goal that would have put the game out of reach. But Shaun Suisham pushed the attempt wide right from a mere 23 yards with 1:52 to play.
Brees (35 of 49, 419 yards) went right to work, hitting Meachem wide open over the middle for a 53-yard touchdown with 1:19 to go, essentially sending the game to overtime.
