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Marques Colston Will Be X-Factor For New Orleans Saints In Week 5

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By @chrisbreezy91

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When the New Orleans Saints host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, Marques Colston will shine and help lead his team to a victory.

Through the first four weeks of the 2014 NFL season, the ninth-year receiver has been an easy target for criticism. Totaling more than 50 yards only once so far, Colston has left Saints fans disappointed in their team’s best receiver.

In 2013, the former seventh-round-pick out of Hofstra finished his first full season bringing in less than 1,000 yards, and because of that, critics were quick to write him off. Now a quarter of the way through the 2014 season, they appear to be correct.

While his career certainly is on the decline, it’s still a little too early to count this fan-favorite out. After all, there is a reason why Drew Brees still heavily relies on him when the team needs a big play. Just look back to Week 1 against Atlanta. Ultimately, Colston ended up fumbling the ball in overtime, costing the Saints the game. On the prior play, however, he dropped an easy catch, but Brees still went right back to his longtime favorite receiver. As long as Colston is on the field, Brees will look his way, especially at home where this team flourishes.

Currently, Colston only has one touchdown this year, and sure enough it came in Week 3 in the Superdome. In 2013, four of his five touchdowns came at home. In 2012, eight of ten. Get the point? Since 2010, Colston has snagged 31 touchdowns, 24 of which came in New Orleans. For comparison, Jimmy Graham has also caught 24 home touchdowns in that same span, but he also has 20 on the road compared to Colston’s seven. In their years with the Saints since 2010, Lance Moore and Robert Meachem combined for 22 home touchdowns and 14 on the road. Once again, better at home, but not as drastic. Above everything else, 77 percent of Colston’s touchdowns came at home, while only 61 percent of Brees’ did.

While it’s no secret that the Saints play better in the Superdome, it clearly affects Colston more than the rest. This indicates that he is the difference maker at home, and Brees will need to rely on him to get this team going back in the right direction.

In Week 5 against a Buccaneers team that statistically plays the worst defense against opposing receivers, allowing 53 catches, 761 yards and six touchdowns, expect Brees to find his favorite receiver in the end zone at least once. If this longtime combination can come up big, the Saints will get their second win of the season.

Chris Lehman is a New Orleans Saints Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisBreezy91, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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