Robert Meachem's 44-yard fumble recovery is the Saints Play of the Day

How’s this for a throwback? With just 44 days left until the start of the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 season, we’re highlighting Robert Meachem’s 44-yard touchdown as the Saints Play of the Day.

But it’s a little more complicated than Drew Brees throwing the football and Meachem carrying it into the end zone. You really need to see it for yourself, but here’s how the official NFL gamebook summarized the play:

(Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle intended for J.Shockey INTERCEPTED by K.Moore at WAS 30. K.Moore to WAS 44 for 44 yards (R.Meachem). FUMBLES (R.Meachem), RECOVERED by NO-R.Meachem at WAS 44. R.Meachem for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

The Replay Assistant challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was Upheld.

That’s right — Meachem made up for his quarterback’s mistake, and then some. Falling back under pressure while facing 3rd-and-26 in the final minute before halftime, trailing 17-10, Brees forced the ball to his tight end Jeremy Shockey to try and make a play. He took the snap out of shotgun at the Washington 48-yard line and backpedaled with multiple defenders in his face, ultimately throwing from New Orleans’ 41 while being shoved to the ground.

Several defenders crashed down on Shockey and safety Kareem Moore took the ball away. Then Meachem stepped in. Moore got to his feet and tried to work his way through traffic up to midfield, but Meachem stopped him, stripped the ball away, and sprinted down the sideline for what was arguably the play of the year.

Meachem came through again in the second half, catching a 54-yard touchdown pass from Brees that forced the game to overtime. A Garrett Hartley field goal in extra minutes put them ahead 33-30. The Saints returned to New Orleans with a tough win, having improved to 12-0, and they went on to win it all in Super Bowl XLIV.

You have to wonder how things may have gone differently if Meachem hadn’t made such a heady play. What if the Saints had lost in Washington and ceded homefield advantage throughout the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings instead? Thankfully, we’re not in that timeline, so we don’t have to do more than wonder about it.