NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mark Ingram insists his march into Saints history was never fueled by criticism that he was a bust during his underwhelming first few NFL seasons.That doesn’t mean the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner with Alabama https://www.thesaintslockerroom.com/authentic-tre_quan-smith-jersey , and 2011 first-round draft choice by New Orleans, was able to tune out such slights entirely.“I know people wanted me out, calling me a bust, this and that. I heard all that stuff my first few years, but I never really paid attention to the naysayers,” Ingram said Monday after tying Deuce McAlister for the most rushing touchdowns in Saints history with 49.“I always do it for the people who love me, for the people who care about me, for the people who believe in me,” added Ingram, whose father, Mark Sr., was an NFL receiver. “I have a great support system. I have a good mind, good head on my shoulders and I’ve always had that belief in myself that I could be a great player in this league.”Ingram’s record-tying touchdown embodied the determination that carried him beyond the lean early years. He dragged Buccaneers safety Andrew Adams several yards before bowling into the end zone, giving New Orleans a more comfortable 11-point, fourth-quarter lead in its NFC South-clinching, 28-14 comeback victory in Tampa Bay on Sunday.“I was hungry to make the play,” Ingram said, crediting leading receiver Michael Thomas for a key block. “It was a big play in the game, and it was just a lot of emotions in that game having to come back, very gritty. So Drew Brees Jersey White , very passionate and I was happy to be able to make that play for the team.”Ingram said he also was pleased to join McAllister — whom he admires and considers a mentor — in the record books with a memorable run.“That was a good run to be able to tie Deuce,” Ingram said. “He had such a great career here and set the standard for running backs coming through New Orleans. He’s always been supportive of me and I appreciate him, so just to be able to have a run in that fashion to tie such a great record in this franchise, it’s good.”McAllister retired after the 2008 season, but remained in the New Orleans area and close to the Saints, working as a team ambassador and eventually becoming a radio analyst.Ingram said McAllister always has been “encouraging” and “supportive,” describing how McAllister sometimes attends running back video sessions and shares his thoughts. “Or if he sees something in a game, he might send me a message.”“It has just been a good relationship over the years and I appreciate him,” Ingram continued. “I’m thankful for his mentorship and he’s been a good asset to my career.”While Ingram showed promise as a rookie, he missed six games with injuries and was a bit of an afterthought on a record-setting offense that featured quarterback Drew Brees, tight end Jimmy Graham, receiver Marcus Colston, and running backs Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas.Ingram rushed for 602 yards and five TDs in 16 games in 2012, then managed just 386 yards and one TD in 11 games for what was a playoff team in 2013.The overwhelming majority of his pro production has come since 2014, when he rushed for 964 yards and nine TDs in 13 games and was named to his first of two Pro Bowls. He has surpassed 1,000 yards each of the previous two seasons and had a career-high 12 TDs last season, despite splitting carries with Alvin Kamara.A four-game suspension, tied to a positive test for a banned substance, likely will prevent him from hitting 1,000 yards this season — his final campaign under contract. But he has averaged 4.7 yards per carry and has rushed for 519 yards and five TDs in nine games.“He’s run with confidence Womens Marcus Davenport Jersey ,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “His health has been outstanding really the last year and a half, two years. I thought the (touchdown) run (Sunday) was impressive and he’s been real consistent. That’s pretty good company when you look at what Deuce accomplished.”Meanwhile, Ingram has established himself as a team-first, locker-room leader, most notably for how he’s gone out of his way to hasten Kamara’s development and celebrate his success, becoming close friends with the young running back in the process.“If I’m bringing younger players along, making them better, teaching them and helping them and encouraging them, it makes the team better, and it makes the competition stronger, which makes me better,” Ingram said.Ingram said if any younger players approach him for help, “I’m going to tell them what I think, what I see, what I would do. And try and encourage them and help them anyway I can just because that’s just like what a good person would do in my eyes. I would never shun somebody just because I feel threatened. I’m going to compete. I’m going to work my butt off. I have confidence in my abilities no matter what.” From Taysom Hill’s deflection of Atlanta’s first punt to Cameron Jordan’s victory-sealing fourth-down sack in the final minutes, the New Orleans Saints clinched their third straight the NFC South title by demonstrating how complete of a team they've become.New Orleans’ defense combined for nine sacks and three takeaways. Hill’s punt deflection, which set up the game’s opening points, was just the beginning of a productive day for the Saints’ reliable special teams unit. Wil Lutz made all four of his field goal attempts and both extra-point kicks, while the Falcons, by contrast Tre'Quan Smith Jersey White , missed one of each.“Three NFC South championships in a row and this one being the earliest we’ve been able to secure it — on Thanksgiving — just says a lot about our organization,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said.With backups filling in at both left guard and left tackle, Brees was bound to have a challenging game. But the record-setting quarterback had the luxury of throwing the ball away, living to play another series or settling for field goals because of how effectively New Orleans’ other units were playing.Having completed 74 percent of his passes this season, Brees connected on a relatively pedestrian 60 percent of his passes (18 for 30) in Atlanta for 183 yards — 44 yards fewer than in any other full game he has played this season.Still, that was enough in a 26-18 victory in which the Saints led throughout, and by as many as 17 points with less than seven minutes remaining.New Orleans didn’t turn the ball over and Hill, a dynamic third-string QB who also plays a variety of roles on offense and special teams, had a 3-yard touchdown catch and 30-yard scoring run to go with his successful bid to get a hand on a Falcons punt.“While he’s developing as a quarterback, there’s a lot of places he’s playing and we probably need to get him the ball even more,” Saints coach Sean Payton said.Second year defensive end Marcus Davenport, a first-round pick in 2018, had two sacks and forced a fumble when he chased down Falcons QB Matt Ryan on a scramble. It is perhaps no coincidence that Davenport’s menacing play on one side of the line opened rushing lanes for Jordan, the Saints’ top pass rusher, on the other. Jordan had a career-high four sacks.A quarter of the regular season remains and the Saints are already guaranteed at least one home playoff game. But after nearly going to the Super Bowl last season, they clearly want more.“We’re on to bigger and better things,” Jordan said. “Every week, we’re building — and we’ve got to continue building.”WHAT’S WORKINGA deep rotation of defensive linemen that has helped them stay fresh and sustain pressure into the crucial late stages of a game. Jordan, Davenport, Sheldon Rankins Womens Alvin Kamara Jersey , David Onyemata, Trey Hendrickson, Malcom Brown, Mario Edwards and Shy Tuttle all contributed to a line that not only racked up sacks, but also limited Atlanta to 89 yards rushing.“We had a good rotation going,” Payton said. “We’ve been dressing eight and (defensive line coach) Ryan (Nielsen) has done a great job of keeping fresh players in. Obviously, at some point, it became a one-dimensional game. It’s hard to muster up that energy without a defensive rotation.”WHAT NEEDS HELPThe “hands team” that is deployed when opponents are expected to attempt onside kicks. Atlanta recovered three straight late in the game, although the first was called back for an offside penalty that looked dubious on replay. The penalty had no affect other than to force them to recover another, which they did. That led to a late field goal and a third attempted onside kick, which they also got, forcing the Saints to make one last defensive stop to finally put the game away.“It’s not good. It’s embarrassing,” Payton said. “We’ll get that cleaned up.”STOCK UPTuttle, a rookie defensive tackle who was undrafted out of Tennessee, made his first interception by using his extended right arm to bat down a pass and, in seemingly one instinctive motion, corral it against his body. He also kept his feet and galloped for what would have been a 39-yard return if not for Jordan’s seemingly needless block-in-the-back penalty.“He’s a good interior player,” Payton said of Tuttle. “You get one that you can sign in free agency and is able to play and help you in his rookie year, that’s valuable because they’re hard to find.”STOCK DOWNCornerback Eli Apple took a step back in an otherwise strong season for him. He committed three pass interference penalties and coaches changed his coverage responsibilities during the game after he initially struggled to stay with Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley.INJURIESLinebacker Kiko Alonso left the game with a thigh injury. It is unclear whether starting left tackle Terron Armstead will be ready to return from his ankle sprain by Week 14.KEY NUMBER8 — Number of times the Saints have earned a playoff berth since Payton became coach in 2006.NEXT STEPSThe Saints get a little extra rest before hosting San Francisco on Dec. 8 in a game that likely will influence top playoff seeding in the NFC.

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