The Saints had not won a season opener since the

Saints Rally Falls Short Mark Ingram Jersey , Lose to Buccaneers 48-40 first game of the 2013 season, and in 2018 it was the same old, same old story again my friend. On Sunday in the Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans came out swinging, scoring on their first three possessions and totaling 24 points in the first half. You would think that scoring 24 points in one half would have the Saints comfortably in the lead? Think again: New Orleans’ defense allowed Tampa Bay to have just as much success, looking every bit the porous and inept unit that we have come to loathe during Sean Payton’s tenure. In the first half, the Bucs did not punt once and scored a franchise record 31 points (with seven of those coming on a Mike Gillislee fumble returned for a touchdown). In the second half, the Saints offense suddenly became sluggish, beset by penalties, drops and a costly fumble by Michael Thomas. The Bucs found the end zone once again in the third quarter, upping their lead to 17 points in the third quarter at 41-24. The fourth quarter brought much of the same, Tampa absolutely perforating the Saints defense and scoring at will as the lead ballooned up to 24 points. New Orleans would finally get on the board with touchdowns by Alvin Kamara and two points conversions to get within eight at 48-40. But Ryan Fitzpatrick (who I’m sure was actually Tom Brady disguised as a Buccaneer) continued lighting up the Saints secondary, throwing for over 400 yards and using his feet to convert a crucial third and eleven play late in the fourth quarter.The defense had an absolutely horrendous day Authentic Max Unger Jersey , unable to put any pressure of Fitzpatrick and not much better against the run. Could it be a fluke? Next week against the Cleveland Browns should tell us very quickly where this season is likely to go: another year of shootouts where Drew Brees has to throw 50 times a game, or a season like last year, where the running game and the defense are competent enough to keep the team balanced and make them a contender. For now, and although it is just one game, the 2018 Saints are big, gigantic fraud!***Below is a timeline of the game as it unfolded, if you can stomach to read.1st QuarterSaints take the opening kickoff all the way down for a touchdown by Alvin KamaraNO: 7 - TB: 0The Buccaneers respond immediately, with DeSean Jackson for a 58-yard touchdownNO: 7 - TB: 7Saints go back down the field and have to settle for a Wil Lutz field goalNO: 10 - TB: 7Tampa Bay easily gets into Saints territory on runs by Peyton BarberFitzpatrick gets into the end zone for a touchdownNO: 10 - TB: 14Saints just as quickly get into Bucs territory as the quarter endsThis has all the makings of a shootout early!2nd QuarterBrees finds Ted Ginn Jr. for a 28-yard touchdown to open the second quarterNO: 17 - TB: 14Bucs get into the Saints’ red zone in the blink of an eyeTampa stall and Chandler Catanzaro ties the game with a 33-yard field goalNO: 17 - TB: 17Saints go three-and-out for the first time as Brees is sacked Bucs dice up the defense again and move down the field with easeFitzpatrick finds Chris Godwin for a touchdownNO: 17 - TB: 24With just over four minutes left in the first half, the Bucs haven’t punted yetMike Gillislee fumbles the ball and the Buccaneers recover for a touchdownNO: 17 - TB: 31Saints get into Bucs territory and into the Bucs red zoneBrees finds Michael Thomas alone in the end zone for a touchdownNO: 24 - TB: 31Buccaneers take a knee, at the half Saints are down seven3rd QuarterBucs start with the ball as they had deferred after winning the tossBucs easily get into the red zone aided by Saints penaltiesTampa stalls and settle for a 36-yard field goalNO: 24 - TB: 34Saints go three-and-out for the second time of the game and puntBucs go three-and-out and punt for the first timeSaints stall and have to punt once againRyan Fitzpatrick finds Mike Evans for a 50-yard touchdownNO: 24 - TB: 41Saints get into Bucs territory, but Michael Thomas fumbles the ball awayBucs take over as the quarter ends4th QuarterKen Crawley gifts the Bucs another first down on a terrible PIRyan Fitzpatrick finds DeSean Jackson for a touchdownNO: 24 - TB: 48Saints drive into the Bucs red zoneAlvin Kamara runs into the end zone for a touchdownKamara converts the two-point conversionNO: 32 - TB: 48On third down, Bucs go deep and find DeSean Jackson into Saints territoryBucs stall while running the clock and settle for a field goalCatanzaro misses the field goal as the Saints take overSaints get into Bucs territory in two playsBrees finds Alvin Kamara for a touchdownTed Ginn Jr. converts the two-point tryNO: 40 - TB: 48The Bucs take over and run the clock, converting a big 3rd and 11 playBuccaneers win the game 48-40.Saints sign veteran running back Terrance West to roster Sheldon Rankins Jersey Salute to Service , report says According to NFL.com’s Herbie Teope, the New Orleans Saints are signing veteran running back Terrance West. The team had several running backs working out on Wednesday, which included Jamaal Charles and Tim Hightower. Teope also noted that Charles had a very good workout and visit, but the signing didn’t make sense at the moment and could be revisited at a later time.West, who turned 27 in January, saw action in just five games with the Baltimore Ravens in 2017 after appearing in all 16 the season before. He’s a former third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns (94th overall) from the 2014 NFL Draft, and will have a shot at earning some playing time.Of course, West will have to beat out Jonathan Williams and Trey Edmunds for playing time with Mark Ingram set to serve his four-game suspension at the beginning of the season.DeMarco Murray was also a consideration the Saints had, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, Murray reportedly declined because he was waiting for the right opportunity. Custom Carolina Panthers Jerseys