The play of Blake, Hand and Horn have been particularly valuable. It was important to address the needs of this team through free agency this year since we were lacking some draft picks. Blake has an 82.9 passer rating and has thrown 12 touchdown passes to only eight interceptions. New Orleans' 36 sacks are second in the conference. Hand is also being credited with increasing the sack productivity of defensive tackle La'Roi Glover , who has a career-high 12, including nine in four games in October.
Horn is on pace to have the best receiving season in Saints history.
He already has surpassed the career highs he set last year with Kansas City of 35 catches for 586 yards and has tied his personal best for touchdowns. The Saints used it on defensive end Darren Howard from Kansas State, who was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September and is tied for the lead among all NFL rookies with six sacks. Not a bad draft. It was the sixth blocked punt or field goal of the season for Tampa Bay, the most by a team since the 1996 Buffalo Bills blocked six kicks. The last time a team had seven was the 1990 Kansas City Chiefs.