New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) celebrate after a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half in New Orleans on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Staff photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save On their first offensive play against the Atlanta Falcons this past week, the New Orleans Saints went back to their bread and butter from their hot start to the season.
At the snap, Alvin Kamara and the Saints offensive line moved as if Kamara was taking an outside zone handoff to the right side of the formation. Atlanta’s defense crashed hard toward the action as quarterback Derek Carr pulled the ball and rolled to his left, where he saw Taysom Hill had beaten his man with a simple out route. Carr got him the ball, Hill broke one feeble tackle attempt and was off to the races for what appeared to be an 88-yard touchdown — but the score was nullified by a holding penalty.
“I told Taysom if he scored on that play I’d give him $1,000, but he didn’t score,” Carr said with a grin. Still, the opening play was a sign of things to come. The play-action passing game was a critical component of the Saints’ offensive attack when they put up 91 points in their first two games this season — with Carr completing 12 of his 17 play-action attempts for 193 yards and two scores in those games — but it tailed off dramatically during their seven-game losing.