This one hurts: the New Orleans Saints run defense has been the model of consistency for years now, having played 55 consecutive games without allowing a single 100-yard rusher. It was the longest streak of the Super Bowl era, and something they could hang their hats on.
And now it’s over. Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders picked up 82 rushing yards on a long sprint in the first half, and tacked on more yardage to total 102 yards on the ground late in the third quarter.
But it wasn’t just Sanders dealing out damage. Eagles rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts also picked up 98 rushing yards as the third quarter wound down, with a long run of 24 yards to his credit. You’d think that a defense practicing against Taysom Hill every day would be better equipped to counter a mobile passer, but it took them some time to dial in.
It’s a shame to see this NFL-record run defense streak go down, especially against an opponent so many counted out. But the Saints can only improve from here, and this performance should give them plenty of motivation.
