METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Between Thomas Morstead placing punts just short of opponents' goal lines and diminutive returner Deonte Harris deftly darting away from tacklers, the New Orleans Saints like the way their special teams have influenced the outcomes of games.
"We know that yards can equate to points; that's a fact," Saints coach Sean Payton asserted this week while discussing how special teams affect field position. "If you believe 100 yards equals seven points — in and around that number — then that can directly impact winning and losing."
The first full game New Orleans had to play this season without star quarterback Drew Brees — a 33-27 triumph in Seattle last Sunday — served as a reminder of how much can depend on the unit that plays by far the fewest snaps.