LOS ANGELES—New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees dropped back from the Los Angeles Rams’ 21-yard line in the third quarter last Sunday and lofted a pass to Michael Thomas, who easily beat defensive back E.J. Gaines on a corner route toward the left sideline.
Thomas made the catch at the eight-yard line, where Rams safety Maurice Alexander closed but couldn’t wrap up the receiver or knock him out of bounds. Gaines caught Thomas from behind near the two, but realizing he couldn’t haul the receiver down he shoved Thomas into the end zone in disgust.
The touchdown was the sixth of seven scored by the Saints in a 49-21 victory, the Rams’ sixth loss in seven games, and it encapsulated much of what ails a defense that suddenly has gone soft after a dominant stretch of nearly 10 games:
Poor coverage.