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We've reached Day 77 in our countdown to the New Orleans Saints' 2026 season opener, which means this clutch Pierre Thomas touchdown is our pick for the Saints Play of the Day. Thomas totaled 77 yards from scrimmage on the afternoon and gave the Saints an edge when they really needed it back in 2012, setting up for an overtime win on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. It was enough to keep the Saints' long-shot playoff hopes alive another week late in a frustrating season.
The teams had traded punts in a 17-17 stalemate for most of the third quarter until the Saints defense came through in a big spot. Veteran linebacker Curtis Lofton punched the ball out of Murray's arms and recovered it himself at the Dallas 5-yard line, setting up Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense in prime position. Brees tried throwing to some of his most reliable targets, but a pass to wide receiver Lance Moore on first down was batted down by Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne. A throw on second down to running back Darren Sproles fell incomplete. Then it was third down. The Dallas defense bit so hard on receivers going over the top (including double coverage for tight end Jimmy Graham) that Thomas was left wide open at the goal line, clapping his hands to put Brees on alert to the opening. Touchdown. You can watch the whole sequence from Murray's fumble to the Thomas touchdown right here.
No Saints running back was as consistently effective on screen passes as Thomas in recent memory, but he was really an all-around weapon in the passing game. Thomas caught 348 passes from Brees across 91 games, including the playoffs and Super Bowl XLIV, gaining 2,780 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns. He also converted 132 first downs on passes from Brees, more than Alvin Kamara (128), Reggie Bush (119), Darren Sproles (99), and every other Saints running back, proving himself as one of No. 9's most trusted targets. Highlights like this performance against the Cowboys are proof of it.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: This clutch Pierre Thomas touchdown is the Saints Play of Day 77
Continue reading...
The teams had traded punts in a 17-17 stalemate for most of the third quarter until the Saints defense came through in a big spot. Veteran linebacker Curtis Lofton punched the ball out of Murray's arms and recovered it himself at the Dallas 5-yard line, setting up Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense in prime position. Brees tried throwing to some of his most reliable targets, but a pass to wide receiver Lance Moore on first down was batted down by Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne. A throw on second down to running back Darren Sproles fell incomplete. Then it was third down. The Dallas defense bit so hard on receivers going over the top (including double coverage for tight end Jimmy Graham) that Thomas was left wide open at the goal line, clapping his hands to put Brees on alert to the opening. Touchdown. You can watch the whole sequence from Murray's fumble to the Thomas touchdown right here.
No Saints running back was as consistently effective on screen passes as Thomas in recent memory, but he was really an all-around weapon in the passing game. Thomas caught 348 passes from Brees across 91 games, including the playoffs and Super Bowl XLIV, gaining 2,780 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns. He also converted 132 first downs on passes from Brees, more than Alvin Kamara (128), Reggie Bush (119), Darren Sproles (99), and every other Saints running back, proving himself as one of No. 9's most trusted targets. Highlights like this performance against the Cowboys are proof of it.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: This clutch Pierre Thomas touchdown is the Saints Play of Day 77
Continue reading...
