Saints' offense stalls out during a punishing clash with the Eagles

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints scored on their first drive Sunday, much as they had in their surprisingly high-scoring first two games of the season.

Nothing else about their 15-12 loss to Philadelphia looked anything like what happened in blowout wins against Carolina and Dallas, when their offense looked virtually unstoppable and scored and NFL high 91 points under new coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Limited to 12 first downs while being outgained 460 yards to 219, the Saints led the Eagles most of the way thanks to their opportunistic defense before being done in by Saquon Barkley’s touchdown with 1:01 left.

“You knew adversity would happen at some point,” said Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who threw a second-down interception in the final minute that sealed the result. “It’s not going to be that easy all the time.”

For New Orleans, it was a tough go most of the way.

After scoring on their first nine series against Carolina and getting touchdowns the first six times they had the ball at Dallas, they nearly failed to score throughout the first three quarters

Blake Grupe’s 34-yard field goal deflected off the right upright and over the crossbar to cap a 15-play opening possession. That was the only time New Orleans scored in the first 50 minutes.

Starting center Eric McCoy exited with a groin injury on the opening drive, and the offensive rhythm New Orleans displayed during two lopsided victories left soon after.

“It’s a big blow,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said of McCoy's departure. “He’s an important part to our offensive line and the way that we play up front. It was difficult to lose him and yet it’s part of the game and we’ve got to be able to step up and still play at an acceptable level when we lose a guy like that.”

With guard Lucas Patrick sliding to center and reserve Olisaemeka Udoh inserted at guard, Carr was sacked on the first play of the Saints’ second possession, setting the tone.

The Eagles held running back Alvin Kamara to 87 yards on 26 carries after the Saints piled up 370 yards rushing through their first two games. When the Saints handed the ball to Kamara on fourth-and-1 from the Eagles 18 on the first play of the fourth quarter, Philadelphia stopped the star running back just short.

Carr completed 14 of 25 passes for 142 yards with a long pass of 29 yards — in stark contrast to Weeks 1 and 2, when he throw for five touchdowns, including a 70-yarder and another that covered 59 yards.

“Their offense was rolling for two weeks, putting up a lot of points and a lot of yards with a lot of efficiency,” said Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose interception in the end zone and lost fumble in the first half did not end up costing the Eagles. “Our defense played a hell of a game.”

Grupe’s field goal with 9:49 left gave the Saints their first points since the opening drive, and Carr hit Chris Olave for a 12-yard touchdown to put New Orleans in front 12-7 at the 2:03 mark.

It just wasn't quite enough.

Hurts connected with tight end Dallas Goedert for a 63-yard catch to the New Orleans 4 when Saints safety Jordan Howden ran into cornerback Marshon Lattimore, forcing safety Will Harris to go around the two of them while chasing Goedert across the field.

Barkley scored the winning TD on the next play.

“Defensively, we just gave up too many explosive plays,” Allen said. “We made too many mistakes and when you play a good team and make mistakes, they take advantage of it.”

The last error came from Carr. He forced the ball downfield under pressure as the Saints tried to get in range for a tying field goal. Safety Reed Blankenship caught it just before it hit the ground.

“I wish I had just tried to skip it or get to the next play,” Carr said. “In that situation, with the clock and however many yards we needed to get, I tried to make that play for our team — and I didn’t.”

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Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is honored during a halftime ceremony at an NFL football game between the Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (27) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) celebrates his interception that ended the New Orleans Saints' final drive in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis (90) leave the field after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen looks at the scoreboard in the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) fakes a pass as she scrambles against Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (53) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Myles Garrett wasn't going to let injuries to both feet stop him from playing on Sunday.

Going forward, he may no longer have a choice.

Cleveland's All-Pro defensive end will undergo an MRI on his foot Monday after he had to twice go to the sideline medical tent and was clearly struggling physically in Cleveland's 21-15 loss to the New York Giants.

Garrett had to be helped off the field at one point of the fourth quarter. On Friday, the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year revealed he's dealing with injuries to both feet but didn't say exactly what was wrong.

Garrett grabbed his right foot during the game, and he was limping following several plays. The 28-year-old said he's dealing with multiple issues in both of his legs as he's trying to compensate for the foot injuries.

“A whole lot of things going on,” Garrett said after hobbling to the podium for his postgame news conference. “It’s part of the game. I’m not gonna make excuses. Excuses don’t win this game. So I’m going to continue to do recovery, my treatment, everything that I’m required and more and be out there and be the player that we need.”

Losing Garrett for any amount of time could send the Browns into a tailspin.

He's their defensive leader, one of the league's elite edge rushers and the one player opposing coaches have to account for in their game plans.

Based on appearance alone, it wouldn't be surprising if Garrett misses significant time.

After the Browns lost and were booed at home for the second time in three weeks, Garrett limped out of the locker room and plopped into the back seat of an awaiting cart. He had to lift his right leg into the vehicle.

Garrett's father stopped to briefly to talk to him before he was driven to his car outside Huntington Bank Field.

The three-time All-Pro sat out two days of practice this week to get treatment and rest before returning Friday. He's been reluctant to describe the injuries, leading to speculation about what's ailing him.

“It’s the foot,” Garrett said when asked what's affecting his play. “But like I said, it’s more than just the foot. It’s multiple things going on. If I think the foot’s feeling good or feeling better, it’s one thing or another. So it’s kind of just feeding into each other right now and nothing’s sitting right because nothing has time to heal.

“I’m leaning on something else and I’m compensating here to make some hurt there. It’s just been — like I said, a cycle.”

Garrett was credited with one tackle and three hits on Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. He had a strip-sack in each of Cleveland's first two games.

With Garrett in a prone position on the field in the fourth quarter, Cleveland's fans began chanting his name before he was helped to his feet and taken the sideline. Garrett said the moment gave him a temporary lift.

“That's the kind of things that you dream of,” he said. “And it’s not the situation we wanted to be in with the score, but that kind of support behind myself and us, that’s when you step up and make plays and we made plays down the stretch, but we need to make a couple more. But that’s the stuff that you play for.”

In addition to Garrett being hurt, the Browns' battered offensive line took more hits as right guard Wyatt Teller (knee), left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and backup tackle James Hudson III (shoulder) all got hurt.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said all the trio would undergo imaging tests. Also, right tackle Dawand Jones is dealing with a knee issue.

The injuries forced Stefanski to move left guard Joel Bitonio to tackle and center Ethan Pocic to guard. Backup Nick Harris took over at center.

Wills made his 2024 debut after undergoing knee surgery in December. Right tackle Jack Conklin, who underwent knee reconstruction after getting hurt in Week 1 last year, recently returned to practice and seemed to be tracking toward playing before hurting his hamstring on Friday.

Stefanski called Conklin's injury “a minor setback.”

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Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett is helped off the field after an injury in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett kneels on the field after an injury in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reaches for New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) while being blocked by offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (78) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)