New Orleans (7-8) may be eliminated from postseason contention, but that’s not stopping the hunger from running back Mark Ingram. In a roller coaster year where he shared the load with Tim Hightower, Ingram found ways to rebound from tough performances week after week.
He returned to form Saturday in a divisional game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The former Alabama standout and 2009 Heisman Trophy winner averaged five yards a carry on 18 attempts, aiding the Saints to 31-24 victory at home. Ingram collected 90 rushing yards, including two touchdowns from eight and 14 yards out. Both scores capped off his first multi-touchdown game of the season, and he celebrated by striking the famous Heisman pose twice. Tampa Bay’s (8-7) inability to limit Ingram and New Orleans’ rushing attack resulted in its seventh regular season loss, making its playoff hopes all but over.
.@MarkIngram22 takes care of business.
Touchdown, @Saints! #Saints50 https://t.co/lXiiayznfq
— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2016
As for Ingram, his outing on Saturday marks the sixth time he’s totaled over 60 yards rushing. The seven-year veteran is now 65 yards away from his first 1,000-yard rushing season as an NFL back (935 yards, five scores).
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
