"The drops will start again soon" - NFL world warns Saints fans after Marquez Valdes-Scantling's 2 TDs in first half vs. Falcons

Marquez Valdes-Scantling carried the Saints offense with two touchdowns and 109 yards in the first half, pushing New Orleans to a 17-7 lead over the Falcons. The Sunday performance sparked divided reactions from NFL fans, with some celebrating his resurgence while others pointing to his previous struggles.

The newest Saint's first half featured touchdown grabs of 40 yards and 2 yards. Working in sync with Derek Carr, who connected on 10 of 14 passes for 196 yards, Marquez Valdes-Scantling transformed from a recent Bills castoff to an instant playmaker in just his second game wearing black and gold.

The breakout arrived at a pivotal moment for New Orleans. With Dennis Allen fired after a seven-game skid, interim coach Darren Rizzi seems to have sparked a fresh energy in the offense. Beyond Scantling's three catches, Taysom Hill added to the aerial attack with two receptions for 36 yards while also contributing 10 yards on the ground.

The 30-year-old receiver's path to New Orleans reads like a homecoming story. Just weeks ago, on October 24, he talked about how close he came to joining the Saints earlier:

"I was walking out of the door to come down here, to get on the plane. The Chiefs wouldn't let me leave."

That detour led to two Super Bowl rings before finally landing in his father's hometown.

Fan reactions painted contrasting pictures of his future.

"The drops will start again soon," one warned.

Others saw promise, an optimistic fan posted:

"Marquez Valdes-Scantling has arrived! With two impressive TDs in just his second game with the #Saints, he's already proving his worth as a key deep threat,"

Another tweet raised skepticism:

"Marquez Valdes-Scantling can't be stopped apparently."

Another fan observed:

"Marquez Valdes-Scantling exploding whale all on his own right now."

Another fan credited the quarterback change:

"Marquez Valdes-Scantling finally finding a real quarterback to get him the ball."

Marquez Valdes-Scantling transitions from Bills backup to Saints' deep threat

NFL: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints - Source: Imagn

Scantling's playgame follows a frustrating start to 2024. In Buffalo, he managed just two catches on nine targets for 26 yards before his release following the Amari Cooper trade. His Saints signing on October 22 filled an urgent need after Rashid Shaheed's season-ending meniscus surgery and Chris Olave's concussion issues.

His credentials seem to match the Saints' requirements.

Saints coach Dennis Allen highlighted his speed element, backed by a blazing 4.37-second 40-yard dash time at the 2018 combine. Even more impressive, MVS once clocked 22.09 miles per hour on a 75-yard touchdown in 2021, ranking second-fastest in the NFL that season.

The veteran's comfort in the offense stems from its similarity to Green Bay's system under Matt LaFleur, where he first established himself as one of the league's premier deep threats with 22 catches of 40 yards since 2018.