Among the seven teams currently sitting in playoff position in the NFC, the Saints have flown under the radar this season. A beneficiary of a subpar division, New Orleans has navigated its way to a 5-5 record as the calendar passes Thanksgiving.
Perhaps the Saints’s most interesting game of 2023 came on Nov. 12, when New Orleans allowed the Vikings to jump out to a 27-3 lead. The Saints rallied within eight points at 27-19 before succumbing. In that game, a pair of injuries forced quarterback Jameis Winston to relieve Derek Carr.
With Carr set to return Sunday against the Falcons, you would think New Orleans would be relieved. However, it does not appear out of the question that Winston’s strong relief effort against Minnesota complicated affairs in the Big Easy.
When asked whether getting Carr back would be a positive, Saints running back Alvin Kamara seemed noncommittal at first.
"I mean, he's our starting quarterback, so it definitely helps," Kamara said after appearing to think over his answer. "He missed the second half of the last game, so obviously, you always want to have your starting guy in there."
Yeah AK ain’t happy lol
— kadin (@kadinjanisch) November 24, 2023
🎥 @nofnetwork pic.twitter.com/REtKSs06Lh
Kamara took to social media Friday afternoon to clarify his comment, hinting he was puzzled by the wording of the question.
Nahh really it was just the “Getting Derek back”. He didn’t really miss nun but a quarter and some change. He didn’t “miss” a game or anything, Plus we comin off a bye so I don’t really feel like we got him back from anywhere other than home. 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/Ob40bV79C2
— Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) November 24, 2023
Carr has thrown 10 touchdown passes against four interceptions this season, while Winston has tossed two scores against three picks.
