NEW ORLEANS: With a little over ten minutes remaining in New Orleans’ 33-28 loss to Detroit on Sunday, defensive tackle Bruce Irvin of the Lions brought down a forceful blow on Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who was the target of a barrage of jeers.
In his tenth NFL season, Carr had to exit a game due to upper-body injuries three times, concussion symptoms once, or both. This was his first season with the Saints.
Saints left lineman James Hurst said of Carr, “I can’t imagine the mental battles that he’s going through,” referencing the damage the game has done to the 32-year-old quarterback’s body this season as well as the way fans have treated him. “We are aware of his character. And we will fight for him because we love him as a teammate.
Hurst continued, “Hopefully, he returns as soon as he can.
According to the Saints, Carr appeared to have hurt his right (throwing) shoulder in addition to his back. He was added to the concussion protocol as well.
Carr exited a Week 3 loss at Green Bay with his right shoulder’s AC joint sprained. Although the extent of the first injury’s recovery is unknown, Carr has recovered from all of his prior ailments this season without missing a game. The Saints (5-7) lost both games that he started.
The atmosphere in the Superdome on Sunday as Carr entered the field in New Orleans was indicative of an angry fan base, if any of them showed up at all.
Season tickets at the Superdome are officially sold out. The resounding cries of “Let’s Go Lions!” and the ubiquitous “Honolulu blue” in the stands suggested that many locals had sold their tickets to Detroit supporters on the secondary market.
Regarding the lower stands behind the Lions bench, Hurst remarked, “The way we’re sitting, like, we look over there, and it was pretty blue.” “This season is going well for them. Thus, that takes place.
Hurst continued, calling the sound of irate supporters “miserable, honestly.” “However, we sort of placed ourselves in it. We’re participating in the game.
Dennis Allen, the coach of the Saints, saw the hostility.
“How are you unable to?” stated Allen. “We have a duty to alter it. I was pleased with the way our men rallied, re-entered the contest, and created a genuine chance for ourselves.The Saints had the fourth-worst red-zone offense in the NFL going into Week 13. It didn’t take long for fans to express their frustration with Carr’s inability to end drives with touchdowns during the entire season. They jeered him when he took the field for the first time, during the pregame introductions, and when he trotted off the field following the interception on his opening pass.
During a significant portion of the game, supporters applauded whenever backup quarterback Taysom Hill on the field for his typical combination of runs and run-pass option plays. However, they jeered when Hill left the field and Carr returned.
In the opening seven minutes, the Saints were behind 21-0. Still, New Orleans proved to be flawless in the red zone, winning all four of their possessions inside the Detroit 20-yard line with touchdowns. Three of those touchdown drives were spearheaded by Carr, while the final one—which was made possible by a personal foul call on the play that forced Carr out of the game—was completed by Jameis Winston.
Ultimately, it was just another defeat for the Saints, their seventh by eight points or less this year.Saints security Tyrann Mathieu grew up in New Orleans during the legendary Drew Brees era, when the club represented the city’s determination to not only survive but also prosper following Hurricane Katrina’s destruction. When the Saints began the 2009 season 13-0 on their way to the franchise’s only Super Bowl victory—celebrated with a parade as boisterous and well-attended as any held during Mardi Gras—he was a high school student.
In response to a question concerning supporters complaining inside the dome, Mathieu remarked, “It’s no secret that we’re all invested. We grew up in this city.” They are entitled to exert pressure, as it were. But ultimately, guy, we’re a one family and community
