The rivalry between ATL and NOLA was as fierce as ever this year, week 1. The first game of the season was cut throat, with a narrow win for the New Orleans Saints, 27-26 – a full recap can be read here. Players stood out on both teams, but some player spotlights were a little brighter.
New Orleans Saints – Michael Thomas:
The saints played their old tricks today, and they managed to net a close win. Taysom Hill played every position on the field, and Alvin Kamara ran the ball over and over. They do their jobs well, but Kamara may not always be present to carry the team to victory, and Hill has sustained injuries in the pre-season, reminding us he is a mere mortal.
Like a beacon of light in the night, Michael Thomas came off of the bench to save the day. Thomas hasn’t played since 2020, but he returned with a bang after warming up a bit. His 2 TD’s in the 4th quarter, clinched the win, and the title as most impressive Saints player in week 1.
Atlanta Falcons – Cordarrelle Patterson:
Fans of both teams were checking jersey’s to make sure the Saints were actually playing the Falcon’s – the offense led by Marcus Mariota came to play.
Mariota was running like a younger, less sacked version of Russell Wilson with an o-line. Also, Younghoe Koo showed out with his fantastic kicks again.
Cordarrelle Patterson ate the Saints defense for lunch, making players rethink whether or not they actually wanted to try to take him down, and all fans got to guess “how many Saints player does it take to take Patterson down.” It’s hard to say whether his TD, the Falcon’s first of the game, or his ability to instill fear, was more impressive.
Summary of week 1, game 1:
Clearly, this season is already proving to be unpredicatable and unexpected. This game wasn’t any different. Both teams will be exciting to follow this season, especially when they meet again in December.
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