Jeff Saturday and Ryan Clark react to New Orleans' divisional victory against Carolina, as the Saints bounce back after snapping an eight-game win streak last week. (1:32)

METAIRIE, La. -- Brandon Coleman tweeted out an apology to Mark Ingram and his New Orleans Saints teammates on Monday -- for only making one block 60 yards down the field instead of two on Ingram’s 72-yard run.

Coleman showed a highlight of himself tripping and falling on the turf after his first block and blamed himself for getting in the way of a TD run.

Naturally, Ingram let Coleman off the hook and praised him for the impressive effort. (You’ll note on the highlight that Coleman also helped spring Ingram with a nice block at the line of scrimmage before trucking down the field after him).

I'm smashing the ground bcuz if i don't trip and fall 😩 @MarkIngram22 don't trip over me and get tackled 🤦🏾‍♂️and this is a guaranteed CRIB CALL 🙌🏾 #NotAcceptable 👿 https://t.co/cR8wW3j8iO — Brandon Coleman (@B_Cole16) December 4, 2017

If it's not for you and the big fellas, and Zach I don't get the opportunity for that. Your hustle and grit made the play! I appreciate you ✊🏾💯 — Mark Ingram II (@MarkIngram22) December 4, 2017

Both Coleman’s effort -- and that attitude that he and Ingram displayed on social media -- is a great example of what Saints coach Sean Payton said he loves about this year’s team.

The unselfishness of blockers like Coleman and the dynamic running back duo of Ingram and Alvin Kamara are big reasons why they’re 9-3 and lead the NFL with 5.0 yards per carry with 19 rushing touchdowns.

“I love Brandon Coleman for that,” Payton said. “I mean, I love his passion. When you start running the ball like we’ve been able to run the ball, I don’t care what team you are, you have to block the perimeter. There has to be receivers with that mindset. And if you don’t have it, you don’t have the same success. And Brandon, one of the great traits he has is he’ll block, he’ll go make a play above his head, he’ll do whatever it takes for us to win, and he’s well respected by our players for that and certainly respected by me.”

Payton later added, “Most important to me is when I see guys excited genuinely for each other regardless of whether it’s their carry or their play or Coleman’s block or someone else. As soon as you start getting that on the team, guys caring more about the win and less about their own, then you begin to have a chance to have something.”

Coleman is playing his biggest role yet for the Saints in his fourth year as an undrafted rookie out of Rutgers. The imposing 6-foot-6, 225-pounder has only 18 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns. But his blocking has been a valuable part of the run game, as well.

“Man, it says a lot about what type of player he is -- very selfless, laying it all on the line to make sure his teammate gets one extra yard or gives him the block to spring him for the extra touchdown. He always does that,” Ingram said. “I think a lot of that goes unnoticed, but not within the football community and not within our locker room. He’s very valuable for us. ... I’m glad that I’m out there with him.”