It’s been a wild month for Teddy Bridgewater. A few weeks ago he was celebrating a big win in high school football after coaching his Miami Northwestern alma mater all the way to a state championship. Then he signed with the Detroit Lions as a backup quarterback, and on Saturday night he was tabbed to go in against the Washington Commanders after Jared Goff had to step out for a brief injury evaluation, having gotten banged up on an interception return.
With a lot of his old New Orleans Saints fans (plus teammates and coaches) cheering him on, Bridgewater threw his first pass in a postseason game since 2015, gaining 3 yards with Jahmyr Gibbs on the catch, to convert a 2nd-and-1. That’s more yardage than the Saints offense put up in the playoffs over the last four years put together. On the next down, star wideout Jameson Williams rushed for a 61-yard touchdown on a trick play.
And that goes to show just how disappointing the last four years have been for the Saints. They haven’t even qualified for the playoffs, must less gained any yards or scored any points. Whether it’s been Sean Payton, Dennis Allen, or Darren Rizzi coaching them, the team Mickey Loomis built hasn’t been good enough to keep playing in January. That must change. With a pivotal week or two of head coach interviews ahead of them, it’s vital Loomis and the Saints get this right.
