Robert Meachem's 67-yard touchdown catch is the Saints Play of the Day
Day 67 is here in our countdown to the New Orleans Saints' season opener with the Arizona Cardinals, so we're spinning the clock back to 2011 for the Saints Play of the Day: Robert Meachem's 67-yard touchdown catch. You can see the highlight for yourself right here.
The Saints had already built a 10-0 lead on the visiting Detroit Lions, helped by a block at the second level from Meachem which created a lane for Mark Ingram II to score with. When Drew Brees faked a handoff and took advantage of the extra second bought by that play action, he found Meachem open in the middle of the field for an easy completion. What was a solid 32-yard pickup became a lot more when Meachem turned and ran to the end zone, turning his hips one way and then another to confuse the Detroit defensive back trying to guard him.
That play kicked the door open. The Saints went on to win the day 31-17, improving their record to 9-3; 2011 became just the 11th time in the team's 45-year history that New Orleans won at least nine games. They finished the year at 13-3, tying the franchise single-season record for wins.
And then they beat the Lions again in the Wild Card Round, aided by another 56-yard touchdown from Meachem. He was never the team's No. 1 threat at wide receiver, but Meachem gave the Saints his all, and they wouldn't have beaten the Lions that day without him. They might not have a Super Bowl without him, either.
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