The 1-2 New Orleans Saints did some good things offensively and defensively Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers but for a second straight week, they failed to do enough to win. One bright spot from the 37-30 loss, however, was the significant impact RB Alvin Kamara made. He continues to pay dividends for the team, living up to his contract extension.
For a second straight week, the Saints relied on the running game to set the tone, running the ball five times in their first two offensive possessions. Kamara broke off a 49-yard run, resulting in an early offensive touchdown scored by the 2017 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Without WR Michael Thomas (out with an injury), Kamara has been New Orleans No. 1 offensive option. Sunday’s game was his 16th multi-touchdown game, which set a franchise record.
ALVIN!!!! 🔥
49-yd gain ⚜️
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/ts96ezGuuw
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 28, 2020
Kamara 🤝 Endzone
🙌#Saints | 📺 : @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/mDNeBTqEWr
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 28, 2020
Kamara’s unique athletic abilities allow New Orleans Head Coach Sean Payton to create mismatches in the passing game through play design. Many times this season, the three-time Pro Bowler has had to turn nothing into something for his quarterback, Drew Brees. But it still hasn’t been enough to win.
“I think we just got find more,” the RB said. “We have to find more on defense. We have to find more on special teams. We all have to do more then what is being asked us right now. [We] have to correct mistakes. Little things [are] killing us… penalties. Some of the same stuff that went on last week. I mean, just penalties. We have to play smarter. We got to play a play better.”
Kamara had two touchdowns and 197 scrimmage yards, including a career-high 139 receiving in Sunday’s loss. He is just the second player in NFL history to have three rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns in the first three weeks of the NFL season.
So far this season, the former Tennessee Volunteer standout has 31 rushing attempts for 156 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per rush. He has also caught 27 of 31 targets for 285 yards, averaging 10.2 yards per reception. Kamara also accounts for six out of the nine offensive touchdowns for the Saints.