“Saints Fall Short to Eagles as Derek Carr Takes Late-Game Hit; Tough Stretch Ahead”
New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen had hoped for a better outcome as the team aimed to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 2013. However, the Derek Carr-led Saints fell just short, losing 15-12 at home to the Philadelphia Eagles. To make matters worse, Carr took a hard hit during the final significant play of the game.
The $30 million quarterback was hit right after throwing an interception to Reed Blankenship, a play that added insult to injury. Carr was later seen on the sidelines limping, clutching his side, and struggling to breathe. In the postgame press conference, Allen provided little optimism regarding Carr’s condition, stating that the trainers had no updates, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell.
Carr downplayed the injury, saying it was just a case of having the wind knocked out of him. Stoically, he addressed the loss.
“You’re frustrated because you lost, and that stings,” Carr admitted. “You want to win every game. We knew the kind of team we were up against… In that moment, taking a sack would have been awful. I was trying to make a tight throw under pressure. Looking back, I wish I had just tried to throw it away or move on to the next play.”
Next, the Saints face a tough two-game stretch against their rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. It’s a challenging schedule for a team looking to overcome their underdog reputation. Meanwhile, C.J. Gardner-Johnson made his feelings clear about the Saints during the Eagles’ victory in the Superdome. After that loss, both Carr’s ribs and the team’s pride took a hit.