The best football teams have something they can hang their hats on, and for the New Orleans Saints that might mean “get Alvin Kamara the football and let him figure it out.”
It certainly worked during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers — several times. After an ugly start in which the Saints entered the second quarter with just 2 net yards of offense (having gained 8 and lost 6), they put their best player in a position to make a difference.
And that’s what he did, scoring their first touchdown of the day. Kamara turned around the left end after Drew Brees pitched the ball to him, scurrying in for a touchdown run. The crafty play design directed 49ers defenders away from him, leaving left tackle Terron Armstead with no one to block on their way into the end zone. It’s really something to see Kamara casually hurdle a spear-tackling 49ers defensive back:
Kamara takes it in 😁#Saints | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/fgNnhBqrzS
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 15, 2020
But Kamara wasn’t finished. On the next drive, Kamara followed his blockers (including rookie guard Cesar Ruiz, redeeming an ugly botched pass protection rep earlier in the game) after catching a screen pass to sprint 34 yards, down into the San Francisco red zone.
And he wasn’t finished yet. Brees threw to him again after the offense settled down around the goal line, initially fumbling the ball. The veteran quarterback quickly recovered it and lobbed a high-arching pass to Kamara, one of the easiest touchdown catches the three-time Pro Bowler has ever seen:
#Saints take the lead off of Kamara's 2nd TD of the day ⚜️
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/pqXIRzZBud
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 15, 2020
All of these antics sent Kamara and the Saints into halftime with a 17-10 lead, and they’re scheduled to receive the opening kickoff of the second half. If they’re going to extend that lead, it’ll take more big plays from Kamara and his teammates.
