For All the Doubts, Brees Carried Weight on His Shoulders

If he weren’t one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks, which his tactical style on the field is designed as a military scheme, he’d probably be a general in the military to provide structure and discipline. Drew Brees is from Dallas, Texas, a visible advocate of the military and takes great pride in U.S. service men and women.

To him, it’s an honor, a tribute to reminisce about the stories that both his grandparents fought in World War II, with Brees paying his overall respect for the armed forces each time he energizes his teammates during his military-style pregame warm-ups and takes the huddle on the field. His affinity for the military inspired millions of believers around the NFL – including his teammates after he had proven that he was an elite quarterback and propelled the Saints to their first NFC title game, and then eventually to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.

And now, in the mardi gras-jiving, Cajun-eating, cool-jazzing, voodoo-practicing culture, if not the most festive city in America, Brees is a symbol for a once disheartened community, a remedy in a town that was devastated by the tragedy of destructive tropical storm. While he continues to bring such joy to New Orleans, as we really should rank him among the elites – a gracious public figure for his craft, a humanitarian who has had a major impact on rebuilding a severely damaged city in the time of catastrophic floods, the jazzy, celebratory folks are waiting for Mardi Gras to wave proudly at Brees on one of those festive floats. For those folks, it’s understandable to honor the acclaimed passer when he broke the NFL record set in 1984 for passing yards in a single season on Monday night, surpassing the great Dan Marino.

But he doesn’t care about individual achievements, so he feels it’s trivial to worry about honors – and instead of accepting the credit – he’s more concerned about taking care of business as a team effort and winning games. The doubt toward Brees was publicly argued across the country when he underwent surgery on his shoulder as to whether he’d ever play again, but if disbelievers truly had faith, they would have visualized one of the touching comebacks, and then they’d have had supported the humbled role model.

There was a sense, a great sense – once he visited Dr. James Andrews (Dr. Doom), that he wasn’t ever going to return to usual form and be healthy enough following his recovery of arthroscopic surgery, but he rehabbed and returned almost in good condition. Any evidence this offered the kind of quandary as precisely as bitter fans, sitting in the stands wearing paper bag mask over their heads, bullied and protested angrily when the Saints were known as the Aints is now laughably irrelevant. When he became a free agent, as the San Diego Chargers thought he’d be done and promised the future to Philip Rivers, the franchise chose not to re-sign him – an unwise decision as Brees tested the market.

This was partly because of Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, and as of right now, his job security remains in limbo. So now he’s in seclusion and blamed for awful draft picks, and jettisoning veteran stars, like linebacker Shawne Merriman and star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, then he stunningly fired former coach Marty Schottenheimer after an NFL-best 14-2 season that sadly ended in a playoff loss to New England. It wasn’t long after, despite that he’s never been a consistent coach but efficient as an assistant, that he and Chargers team president Dean Spanos hired Norv Turner, one of the worst coaches in the NFL.

The Saints, in desperate need of someone with charisma and leadership, knew it was a gamble but signed and named Brees their franchise quarterback. Dr. Andrews, who performed his surgery, wasn’t sure he’d ever play again but had hope. There was Brees, standing in the Orthopaedic center in Birmingham, Alabama where he visited the doctor, fighting back tears, wondering if he’d ever resume his career in the National Football League. Sure enough, he played again and his injury was not career-threatening.

What? Yes, now I see. The Chargers also dispatched Brees, and doubted a miraculous comeback, assuming that his injury was career-threatening. It comes to our attention, after bringing life to a franchise that experienced 43 years of misery, he’s better than ever, shattering NFL-passing records and growing into a legend before our very eyes as one of the gifted quarterbacks to deliver a Super Bowl in a city once devoid of tasting greatness.

The great ones, meanwhile, normally establish a home and indeed he found home sweet home in New Orleans. The folks even made him feel welcomed, a little Southern hospitality, not knowing what to expect from a sore-armed quarterback healing from surgery. No one ever thought he’d break Marino’s record of 5,084 yards with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons, right? No one ever thought he’d pass for 300 yards or more 12 times this season for an NFL-record, right?

This is not a phantasm. This is not imagination. This is real.

He has accomplished more than the average quarterback, although he had to recover from a shoulder operation for the most heartfelt story in football. Now in his prime, Brees earns his place in history, when with all the adversity, he was unwanted after the injury as one damaged shoulder nearly ended a bright career. But he’s helped the resurgence, valued as the viable player in town where he’s a godsend, by leading his troops like he really is a military sergeant and becoming the likable athlete. Nobody in general knew he’d be accurate as a quarterback. Nobody truly knew he’d emerge into a big-game player. More to the point, he was not recognized, and apparently he’d never be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

The day eventually came when Brees had a team again.

Saints Come Alive In Time to Salvage Promising Pursuit

The moment the defending champs escaped futility, on a night inside the loud and energetic Superdome, the Saints embraced an imperative win to keep aspirations alive. On this night, the Saints’ faithful wore costumes celebrating Halloween, and saw the New Orleans Saints escape purgatory.

Just in the last year we witnessed the Saints win a title, the first in franchise history, and we all commended the well-respected franchise as if they had emerged as America’s team.

It clearly took an opponent like the invigorated Pittsburgh Steelers, the most critical game on the Saints schedule, to make it evident that they are still relevant and resilient. It will be games like this, not over-match meetings against inferior opponents that offer telling leads as to whether the Saints are tangible or a mirage, suffering from a pestering hangover.

In general, the sluggish beginning of another palatable drive to the biggest stage in football faded out of the spotlight, but suddenly the Saints resolved the lousy and bleak obstacles.

Simply, as we discovered a tenacious franchise with perseverance and persistence, the Saints increasingly mended woes and established its identity against a defensive-minded team. On paper, specifically, the Saints were worthy of exceeding standards and had the pieces to repeat glory.

But in reality, Drew Brees, who completed 34-of-44 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers, rediscovered his usual form in time to revive into convincing contenders.

Given all that we’ve noticed on Sunday night of the viable toughness from a high-powered offense and stalwart defense, it doesn’t seem like the Saints have stopped marching after a humiliating, ghastly home loss to Cleveland.


The good news is that the Saints are finally marching again, following a crucial 20-10 defeat in a Halloween party against the Steelers. It was a kind gesture, rightfully so. And basically, the Saints redeemed all misery at a time when the season becomes fierce and competitive, at a time when winning becomes meaningful and convenient.

“It was good for us to get a win,” coach Sean Payton said. “We’ll keep working. We’ll recognize that it is what it is and we’ve got a lot of things to work on.”

There is plenty to work on. Although the Saints haven’t looked flawless or frightening, regardless of falling short in close games this season, clearly the win happened against a good team with vital weapons. The national scene has been seized by the Steelers, a team that somehow survived without Ben Roethlisberger to begin the season, while the franchise quarterback served a four-game suspension.

Meanwhile, the standards are always high for a team seeking to win back-to-back championships, and it symbolizes a team of resiliency and diligence. Early on, no one anticipated the Saints to decrease from championship-caliber and suddenly turn lousy, awakening in a timely situation to bypass fiascoes and afflictions, clouded in a disastrous storm.

At last, Brees had shed the paltry, useless performance of this season and past a rigid test against arguably the stingiest defense in the league. The Saints, on the other hand, healed all sorrow and refused to flunk the stiffest assignment this season. Wipe away the losses to the Falcons, Cardinals and Browns.

Stunned heavily by the Browns at home, the Saints were forgotten at that point and had been ridicule for under-performing. With that, it was clearly a game that the Saints rejuvenated in, ending the dreadful memories of an early crisis.

This could have easily doomed a poised and cohesive team with a knack to steer a high-powered offense as well as manipulate opponents’ tactics on offense, basically because of the defensive guru Gregg Williams, who strongly emphasizes the methods of playing brilliantly on defense.

“We’ve got high expectations,” Brees said. “We’re disappointed with the 4-3 start, especially because of the way we lost some of those games. It was really about sticking together. Everybody outside the building was like, ‘What’s wrong with the Saints?’ But we knew in our locker room that we had to stick together. We played as complete a football game—offense, defense and special teams—as we have all year.”

He’s telling the truth.

“We knew that this was going to be a pound it game where the defenses were going to take over early and the offenses had better patient or they could lose it early,” Saints cornerback Malcom Jenkins said. “That’s how it went. The offenses were trying to find themselves for most of the night. The defenses were trying to keep them in that mode.”

Instead of it being a high-scoring game, it was a low-scoring game and by halftime the scoreboard had 3-3. As the Saints defense has been stout for much of the year, the convoluted schemes were troubling for the Steelers and Roethlisberger was harassed and shoved as if he was chew toy.

By the fourth quarter, the Saints were toying with the Steelers and took a 6-3 lead. Eventually, they won it. Most of all, this is a win that may have saved the Saints season.

By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the Saints removed their costumes and suddenly played like a championship-driven team. An even more telling and lasting scene is that the Saints elevated its intensity and effortlessly advanced to the end zone twice.

However, the difference might have been when linebacker Marvin Mitchell stripped the ball loose from Steelers tight end Heath Miller and the ball drifted right into Sharper’s hands.

For the rest of the way, Brees completed all five of his passes and connected with Marques Colston for a 16-yard touchdown pass and then wide receiver Lance Moore on an eight-yard pass with 2:37 left.

“It was huge,” Saints safety Darren Sharper said.

Certainly, it was a huge win.

And suddenly, all eyes are on the Saints.

If Favre Can't Handle Pressure, Credit Saints' Stingy Defense

They gathered collectively inside an electric Superdome, on a night when swarms of fans embraced a delightful moment witnessed for the first time ever in New Orleans, releasing bleakness in a town once devastated in a recovery from a disheartening tragedy.

It was a blissful turnout, on a night zealots wildly initiated one of the most thrilling parties on Bourbon Street, still celebrating in high-spirit ever since the New Orleans Saints won their first ever Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Back to defend their title, the rational feeling is that the Saints marched in with the hardware, and considerably are favorites to return to the biggest stage in football and defend their title. In reality, this here, however, isn’t an illusion but a real hangover after hoisting its first ever Lombardi Trophy seven months ago. As always in circles, the Saints were referred to as the Aints, until the improbable pursuit in the postseason alarmed enthusiasts and energized the mood in a flustering environment to deepen the heart and soul of hopeless citizens.

For that matter, this uplifted the sanity of fans and brought happiness. Lately, as a city celebrated a momentous turnaround, from a team once so awful that its fans wore paper bags and regularly protested disappointed in the poor performances, 70,000-plus jammed into the Superdome and were fired up to witness the Saints on Thursday night.

And while the Saints seem to be feeling a hangover during the perpetual celebrations, you are carefully trying to predict whether the team can reach a climax again and sustain rare back-to-back triumph. If there’s a possibility, maybe the Saints are in position to repeat. That seems rational, not necessarily irrational in a way, when New Orleans in the first game of the regular-season respectively played with urgency, firepower, resiliency and balance to survive a 14-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings to begin the season 1-0.

The perception is, of course, that the Saints were the feel-good story a year ago and noticed as the ferocious team in the league, with a much vibrant and monstrous defense which deserved abundantly most of the credit. As often last season, the Saints defense in the shadows of their high-powered offense was rarely anointed. Although it was the ugliest beginning for the defending champs, Brett Favre was doomed in a poor second-half performance and finally played like a senior citizen.

Because of creativity and blitzes, they harassed, abused and knocked out the battered Favre, and he completed merely four of his final 12 passes for 44 yards. The rest of the way the Saints were allowed to secure a stunningly low-scoring win, and proved unflappable with the ability to ultimately inhibit and frustrate Favre, a veteran quarterback whose retiring and un-retiring sagas annoys us during the offseason.

“I can’t say we were hitting on all cylinders like in the championship game. I’d be lying,” said Favre, who threw for a staggering 310 yards on 28-for-46 passing in the NFC Championship Game a year ago. “You can call it rusty. People are going to have their own opinions. Whatever."

“There were a lot of opportunities we capitalized on but there were way more that we didn’t. The fact is they were there. There were plays to be made. That’s what I’m concerned about. If we were not any good, it would be obvious.”


It all means that now, for once, he is playing like an old man, or maybe someone who is very fatigued as his performance level drastically declines. Or is the Saints blistering defense really that stellar? Believe it or not, this is a much-improved unit on defense for the most sterling juggernaut in football. With the expense of dominant platoons and instrumental pieces for prevailing on the biggest stage, the Saints are arguably the most powerful team in the league. And not just on a creative offense. To articulate, the Saints settled for a mere 14 points and still managed to pull away with a convincing win, but amazingly held the Vikings to nine points, 20 below their average of last season.

This is a team, after all, on a quest to repeat triumph, a team anxious to strengthen the foundation in a community where there are a myriad of believers, ready to celebrate another championship as the Saints are ready to watch another banner rise inside the Superdome. There were moments when the Vikings seemed hard-driven at the Saints’ wildest festival, but on the opening drive a night swelled in a hurry.

For that, the most compelling and possibly the most evident storyline is developing under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, an intellectual mastermind admired for assembling forceful plays and cultivating unstoppable schemes that are troubling to all opponents. The basic fundamentals are standing out as a convenient requisite and the Saints needed strong defensive effort from profoundly a physical and experience defense.

“Until Gregg got here, we [the defense] were kind of an eyesore around here,” Porter said. “That’s something we’re working hard to change."

It’s still a work in progress, but the incredible defense is the difference maker and takes a bundle of pressure off the proficient offense. If he wants to ultimately dilate his legacy, then Favre must find a groove and lead the Vikings. Relatively speaking, it’s critical to expose his customary arm-strength and accuracy on the field to preserve his legacy and protect his Hall of Fame status.

As a way to irritate Favre, the Saints exploited the 3-4 and 4-3 front, without even blitzing as much and they still applied enough pressure and made Favre peeved while handling all the tension and blows to the turf. From the beginning, for the most part, it seemed like it would have been a blowout. But the Saints, a high-scoring team, weren’t so overpowering with possession of the ball and instead without possession of the ball.

More surprisingly, is that the Saints were limited to 231 yards after a dramatic 77-yard drive. But as long as Williams is the defensive coordinator, the Saints may slow down opponents and march in as the best defenders in the NFC, if not all of football. More than anything, the Vikings were fooled by the 3-4 alignments, an unusual formation that Williams rarely employs.

Williams, who has numerous tricks in his mind, is an expert at calling defenses and knows how to match the opponents’ personality by using a specific system to slow down the opposing team. It was very stunning to Vikings coach Brad Childress that the Saints limited blitzes. It was common to wonder if he would've plotted to blitz as expected.

“We were right where we wanted to be at halftime,” said Childress. “Unfortunately, we were three-and-out far too many times.


There weren’t exactly any fourth and blunders or Belichick miscues, but the Vikings were too conservative in play-calling which resulted in either second-and-long or third-and-long situations. But of course, the grandfather of quarterbacks has flaws and deficiencies he needs to mend in an instant. The inconsistency is signs of a receding 40-year old, which are glaring archetypes of a receding era already slowly deteriorating before our very eyes. Now, as the football season barely begins, Favre is already showing signs of fatigue and seems battered after one game this season.

“(Favre) was antsy,” said Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma. “He wasn’t able to set his feet. He wasn’t able to make the throws he would (normally) make.”

His consistency descended by the second-half after connecting on 11 of 15 first-half attempts. Pressured heavily by Saints’ safety Roman Harper on a blitz, he tossed an interception to Vilma on an ill-advised throw. It’s hard to tell how effective the Vikings are with a struggling Favre, particularly when he’s without Sidney Rice his favorite target.

The absence of his prolific receiver is unhelpful, but he’s expected to be sidelined at least until midseason while rehabilitating from hip surgery. Since he is missing in action, an abundance of pressure is on Adrian Peterson, who is an explosive running back and had a pretty sufficient game on 19-carries for 87-yards.


As he ages, Favre isn't nearly effective in his dropped back passes and has trouble scrambling out of the pocket quickly. This was a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship game last January that the Saints pulled off in an overtime thriller. But considering that the Saints limited the blitzes like in the title game when Favre was battered and brutally hit 16 times, New Orleans is still the better, fiercest team because of its sturdy, much-improved defense.

That was a wonderful sequence in the opening of a tense and tight rematch. It took only five plays for Drew Brees, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, to connect with receiver Devery Henderson for a 29-yard touchdown pass on a rollout and gained a 7-0 lead. With the exception of free safety Malcolm Jenkins, who is replacing an injured Darren Sharper, Harper who has played a key role, and lastly Tracey Porter, whose interception return for a touchdown sealed the victory and gave the franchise its first ever title, a stingy secondary dictates the fate and complexion of the Saints.

Sure enough, Favre orchestrated a nice throw for a touchdown to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, a primary target and settled for a team-best, catching four receptions for 76 yards. This time, it was a bit surprising to see receivers Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin combined for catches and 15 yards against the Saints’ assertive defense, and Favre stumbled all night.

For once, he played like an elderly man with inabilities to ultimately find his receivers.

It’s very, very difficult to repeat a championship. From the looks of things, it’s certain that the Saints are on track to win it all. The blueprint is defense wins games. And this defense is one hell of a stingy one.

After all, they are marching…

Super Bowl 44: The Colts Had It, But the Saints Wanted It More; The Best Night for Bourbon Street

As a Colts fan, this game really disappointed me. But hey, the New Orleans Saints wanted it more. They needed this. After all New Orleans has gone through for the past few years with Hurricane Katrina and all that. Along with that, the Saints were never a good football team. The NFC Championship was the farthest they’ve ever gone before the season started. And they only made the NFC Championship once in their life.

The Saints were undervalued. With losing to teams like the Buccaneers with their starters, the Saints were not favorites entering the playoffs. They proved everyone wrong. And then, the heroics of Tracy Porter came in the NFC Championship game. After that pick, it was over. It happened last night in the Super Bowl, against a high-powered Colts’ team.

The first quarter started off hot for Indiana. 10-0. But in the second quarter, it all began to slip away. The Saints made mistakes, but they know. They know how to stop Peyton Manning and this Colts’ offense. Amazing job by Gregg Williams with the defense. As a Colts’ fan, I wasn’t all that bad about Indianapolis losing to be honest. 2006 was more memorable, more intense. This season was destined for New Orleans. They needed this.

The NFC Championship win two weeks ago was a sweet win on Bourbon Street. Last night, it would have to be the sweetest. Back to the game. With the second quarter over, it was 10-6. Entering the third, it felt like the Colts knew what was going to happen. Every time they lead at the half, they are pretty much undefeated (the New York regular season game does not count to me in any way). And plus, if they were trailing, they always found a way to win and figure out the defense.

The game started off…with an onside kick. My god. Sean Payton pulled off a crazy stunt. Hank Baskett almost had it, but they were too surprised by this. So it started off with Saints’ ball, for both halves. That is when the Colts’ defense plummeted. They weren’t ready to go on and they failed on the drive. Couldn’t tackle, left guys open throughout the game and kept Manning off the field.

That was the way to stop the man. That was to way to stop the “Greatest of All-Time.” It started to get out of hand big during the end. Matt Stover misses a field goal while Garrett Hartley makes all of them. It was 17-16, Colts holding on real tight. They had this. Everything was going good for them. Joseph Addai was running the ball great. It was very unexpected. For the drive on the Saints, Indiana played horrible defense. They left guys open the whole game and gave Drew Brees so much time to throw.

Since the onside kick, it ruined it all. Jeremy Shockey got the touchdown and the Saints were up 22-17. Then came the two-point conversion. Lance Moore made a crazy catch. To me, it was 50/50 for a catch. It seemed liked he had it and then he loses possession. But New Orleans got it and it was 24-17. No reason to worry. If the Colts’ defense doesn’t want to take the push, Manning needs to take the control. It was Manning. It was all down to No. 18. With this drive, it would be legendary. He already had one with the 96-yarder. This had to be better.

Manning got a couple of first downs. It was now third. Manning was looking good with Reggie Wayne. There went Manning, hiked the ball. He threw a quick pass right at Reggie Wayne, and out of nowhere came Tracy Porter. He went to Indiana University. Now he was taking an interception back for a touchdown…on his hometown NFL team back then. Porter was something. He made legendary guys sad. First Brett Favre to end it, and now Manning. Saints were up 31-17 with three minutes to go.

Could the Colts come back? Yes they can. Manning threw a lob and long pass to Austin Collie. They were now in the red zone. After a few plays, they made it into the goal line. On those downs, they weren’t worth it. On third and goal, they ran it. They ran it! What the eff! It was a wasted down. Now it just came down to this. Fourth down. Manning threw it and it was tipped. Turnover on downs with 44 seconds to go. The Saints were going to win their first Super Bowl ever!

Colts’ fans, don’t get too overwhelmed with the loss. The Colts can run the ball now, in my opinion. It’s time for Joseph Addai to get back like he was back then. He will do it. And also, it’s not so bad being the second-best team in the league. Don’t worry. AFC Champions is something positive to look at. The Colts made it, but the New Orleans Saints just wanted it more. They needed it. The Saints can build on a future with Brees, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, and more. Saints fans need to be very luck with Tracy Porter. They wouldn’t have even made it to the big show without that interception in the NFC Championship.

Don’t worry Indianapolis. You’re the team to beat in the AFC. With the way you were playing this year and you can bring it on more this season, it’s another Super Bowl. You’ll make it in one of the next two years, I know it. Hats off to New Orleans. They played one hella of a game. And fans of the NFL, don’t think as if the Saints killed Indy. 31-17 may look like it. To me, it felt more like 24-17. It was over from 24-17 anyways. Porter just ended it. Both teams played hard. The Colts gave the Saints a challenge, but they found out quickly about them after the half.

So again, hats off to New Orleans.

This has got to be the sweetest night ever on Bourbon Street.

Saints March Into Super Bowl, a Memorable Win For a Long-Suffering City

In what may have been the most heartfelt game in Super Bowl history, Who Dat Nation can finally celebrate on Bourbon Street. They can begin tossing black and gold beads, feast on gumbo and eat Emerald's prepared food dishes.


There’s a sense the New Orleans Saints are hometown heroes, giving the enthusiastic and authentic folks on Bourbon Street the sweetest win since the city dealt with a devastating crisis.

It was a moment to rejoice as a town and leave behind the dreadful memories of Hurricane Katarina—affliction that deprived and ravaged New Orleans. But finally, fans have something to cheer about, after the Saints rendered years of futility.

For once, it felt like an elite franchise, an experienced franchise prepared to seize its first title in franchise history on pro football’s biggest stage. For once, the Saints aren’t witnessing long-suffering calamity that placed misery and burdens within a community where the unfaithful fans booed, protested and wore paper bags over their heads calling them the Aints.

So the people of New Orleans, people who believes strongly in voodoo dolls and marching with the Saints, couldn’t be more elated to jive on the busiest street in town, listening to the beautiful jazz songs as its greatest victory flourished in South Florida to open a page in the history books.

Living in a country where the biggest game of the year should be declared a national holiday, the Super Bowl isn’t only viewed for the giddy commercial ads or gathering as a family to host a sizable party. It also embraces a storybook season. It seems a surreal season transformed into reality. The Saints proved unflappable in the greatest game of their 43-year existence. It seems the Saints were resilient, entering the game of roman numerals with a posture of perseverance and heart.

“Whoever thought that this could be happening?” Drew Brees said. “Eighty-five percent of the city was under water. People were evacuating to places all over the country. Most people left not knowing whether New Orleans would ever come back, or if the organization would ever come back.”

There you have it. The Saints are your Super Bowl champs. First time is a charm. This is exhilarating for a community that fought through adversity, a community that adores football and appreciates their sudden conquest to raise its first banner in the Superdome.

Not long ago, they were so hopeless and pathetic, to whereas ridiculing and lambasting the Saints was a yearly ritual. Today, of course, we’ve praised them, we’ve rooted them on, we’ve pampered them, and we’ve shared our sympathy. If there’s a cure for healing the tragedy that tore the spirit, the Saints marching to its first Lombardi Trophy is an antidote—a moment the town appeases a franchise that has long passed the lingering pain of failures, a predicament labeling the team for decades.


It took the second decade of the 21st century for the Saints to shake off hideous misadventures and dismay, finally reaching a crescendo in Super Bowl XLIV. But without debate the bigger story was Brees outshining Peyton Manning, forcing the greatest quarterback’s legacy to wait.

Much of the debate leading up to the big game dwelled on whether Manning could add a title to his resume and solidify his legacy. But a legacy materialized before our very eyes, along with a historic achievement. Not only was it revival within a dispirited town, but memories of joy and idolatry. The good people of New Orleans anoint and worship the Saints.

“We were on a mission,” said linebacker Scott Fujita. “For us, it was about much more than just football.”

Keep in mind, that’s how much the franchise means to a feverish crowd on Bourbon Street. They watched their Saints pull off the most impressive victory in Super Bowl history. Once it all ended, the Saints celebrated its first worthwhile championship, a memory that will always remain in the hearts of many.

All season, fans embraced their elite toughness, which revealed a renaissance age. With the resurgence of Brees, who most doubted after having surgery on his throwing arm in 2006, the Saints were an organization willing to allow him a chance.

Sure enough, he’s a true hero producing on a colossal stage when jitters play an effect on a first-timers performance level. The excitement and nervous reactions wasn’t a factor, able to master brilliancy after leaving behind images of a memorable quarterbacking performance.


For all the hype and constant debates of Manning’s legacy, Brees was a minority, and the Saints were still evaluated as an inferior team without enough experience. So much for Manning validating a legacy. Brees hijacked our consciousness on the most dignified night of his career, courtesy of the gutsy onside kick entering the second half that gave the Saints gained momentum.

It’s a rarity to witness trickeries when a championship is on the line, but Thomas Morstead kicked an undaunted onside kick that surprised the Colts and was recovered by Chris Reis. From there, the Saints maintained poise, dominated at will, and Brees continued delivering passes with incredible precision and awareness. That prompted 32- of-39 completed passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Amid Brees’ flawless performance, prolific cornerback Tracy Porter picked off Manning and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown.

“When I saw my blockers in front of me, and only Peyton and the offensive linemen left,” said Porter, “I cut back and ran it in.”

That put things out of reach, lifting premature celebrations and dance parties in the street. And lastly, the Saints danced as if they were children traveling from Sun Life Stadium to Disney World. Instead they were jubilating over an impressive 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, excited to be honored with their first memorabilia. While Manning’s legacy takes a downfall—missing intended receiver Reggie Wayne after Gregg Williams’ superb defense executed blitzes—we now realize how elite Brees really is.

“We play for so much more than ourselves," Brees said. “We played for our city. We played for the entire Gulf Coast region.

Without debate, he’ll go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks in Super Bowl history in a city where the population admires his humanitarian work, charitable work and involvement within a community that needs much rebuilding. But even greater, the Saints are mentioned in the Super Bowl category.

They now own a spot in history after dominating on the immense platform in sports. They marched until the intriguing contest ended, they marched against a team that had been there before, and they marched to come back from a 10-point deficit, proving title worthy.

There was Saints owner Tom Benson, the 80-year-old man who celebrated as the biggest fan, who stood on the midfield stage to receive the gleaming Lombardi Trophy and shouted to the heavens, “We’re back! We’re back!" He was filled with happiness as was Sean Payton, the best coach to ever lead the Saints. And Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees lifted his son, Baylen, and held him embracing the moment.

“I’ve just told our guys, you’ve got to make me look good on this,” Payton said. “We were going to be aggressive. When you do something like that, you just put it on the players, and they were able to execute. It turned out to be a big change of possession and ended with a score.”

Thousands gathered at Sun Life Stadium chanting “Who Dat! Who Dat!”

It was the Saints fulfilling a life-long dream for a grateful city. Finally, they can alleviate the horrid memories of long suffering.

Well, I guess Mardi Gras begins in the state of the fleur-de-lis.

Celebrate good times and twirl those fancy Saints’ umbrellas.

New Orleans Saints' Historic Quest: The Sweetest Win on Bourbon Street

What we’ve seen is real, even though it feels like an illusion, given the long-suffering. The New Orleans Saints weren’t always referred to as the Saints, but instead a disgrace in a community where the sport wasn’t the finest attraction.

Doomed with bad karma, Mardi Gras was more exciting than the Saints marching into the Superdome, more convivial than ridiculing the goofy fans for wearing paper bags over their heads to badly humiliate the home team.

The latest carnival is prepared to kickoff tonight and last until the wee hours or mid-morning in a town, where a massive parade is only one win away.


Until then, the biggest win in franchise history is the prelude of a triumphant quest, not only for a starved franchise, but a convinced town that believed and found sanity by applauding the Saints. It has been a season of triumph, finally mitigating doleful images of misfortune.

From the Ain'ts to Saints, a town is thrilled of the black and gold team. The population had clearly waited for New Orleans to bring joy and absolve tragic memories of Hurricane Katarina, a disaster that deprived and battered humanity.

In a town, where delighted fans are attached to the Saints, can fest on gumbo, dance all night in Bourbon Street and brace the Saints. You’ve seen a loud, committed crowd sell out the Superdome and scream. Like hearing an entertaining rock band perform in front of thousands, the mood inside the craziest venue isn’t only insanity, but the guts of genuine fans worshiping the Saints.

The 16-game regular-season meant a season of worthiness, when New Orleans were on the verge of presumably finishing the year unbeaten before suffering a three-game losing streak late in the season. But there’s nothing like finishing off the postseason on a strong note.

It’s well established the Saints removed the ignominious nametag to rename themselves to their original name. The Saints ain’t labeled as the Aints, particularly if you confute of all the poor literature brainwashing our society for all the innovated technology.

But once it all ended on Sunday in the NFC Championship game, the Saints celebrated after clinching its first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. It’s the sweetest win ever, a redemptive victory to break away from all the negativity and doubts.

This is the greatest accomplishment ever, to silence all cynical fans that never believed the Saints would avoid further headaches and painful failures, in which they weren’t seen in the playoff picture.

Besides a hurricane ravaging a community, the Saints brings elation to a despairing town, gracious of an astonishing postseason in the Big Easy. In a spectacular finish, New Orleans revealed its scoring offense ranks No. 1 in the league, including the No. 1 seed in the postseason. And to make a strong statement, the Saints controlled its own fate in overtime to climb over a challenging contest and critical test in the biggest game.

I’ll like to send my best wishes to New Orleans. Why not? It’s their first time appearing on the finest stage, a position every team wishes to be in, a dream every player desires. For a long time, they’ve waited anxiously and witnessed it finally. Nothing this thrilling was imagined in the aftermath of the calamity that, sadly, happened.


But in reality, the Saints punched a ticket to Miami and will travel to the dream vacation spot for a date with the AFC champs Indianapolis Colts on February 7, where The Who will perform at halftime, and where Peyton Manning meets Drew Brees.

“This is for everybody in this city,” Sean Payton said to the crowd. “This stadium used to have holes in it and used to be wet. It’s not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans.”

There’s no point of even dwelling on the miserable losing streak that lasted since 1967. The Saints won 31-28 in the overtime thriller, and suddenly a tense night turned into a party on Bourbon Street. Confetti covered the aisles at the Superdome. Fans screamed to where your eardrums could’ve blown out.

Given the awful history, a rebirth was badly needed to reduce all the nagging bleakness. Late as time dwindled in regulation, it wasn’t easy to watch and nerve-racking Saints fans stared timorous realizing the Minnesota Vikings seemed convincing enough to advance.

If you’ve started taken it for granted, you didn’t understand this was a competitive championship showdown, a game that featured the 40-year old veteran Brett Favre, who hurls passes as if he’s a raw 20-year-old or a player barely entering his prime.

He’s the most prolific passer in NFL postseason history, exploiting the similarities of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, whose record he broke during the game. But individual awards aren’t enough to satisfy Favre. He was craving a title, despite surpassing Montana in the record books.

That isn’t all so enticing to Brett, a future Hall of Famer who strictly came back to prove to Green Bay he wasn’t washed up and win a Super Bowl ring. That was before he tossed a costly interception to Saints defensive back Tracy Porter at the 22. Did Favre throw away the game and ruined his legacy?

No, he played against prolific defense that didn’t relinquish the pass-rush, which remained adequate throughout the game. Favre was harassed, and knocked to the turf. He limped off the field, he grimaced in pain, and was constantly forced out the pocket in which the relentless Saints may have sent Favre into retirement. As times became dramatic and jovial, Favre watched New Orleans implemented a game-winning drive.

“Who Dat”?

It’s the Saints marching into field goal territory. They were brilliant to conserve clock, to save plenty of seconds and rely on special teams to salvage the biggest game in the biggest moment. Sure enough, it went in the favor, when unheard-of kicker Garrett Hartley declared fame for booting a 41-year game-winning field goal.

In the 42-year of existence, it took resiliency and fortitude to overcome adversity and reach a goal, in which the Saints prepared for all season. One win away from a historic accomplishment, and the Saints are celebrating before the important game.


It’s sensible predicting that the Saints will win. If their prolific defense outshined Favre’s Vikings, it’s rational to believe they could do the same to Colts. By putting pressure on Manning, the Saints harassment may frustrate Indianapolis high-powered passing game. Forgetting Brees is like neglecting a vicious predator with large fangs. He beamed and passed for 197 yards with three touchdowns. All the weapons are used to his advantages.


It’s a blessing any time you have a versatile running back in Reggie Bush, who is remarkable and explosive on special teams. It is also a pleasure to play on the same team with receiver Marques Colston. Next there’s Pierre Thomas, a running back with enough stamina and agility to be the next big thing in New Orleans. He found the end zone once, and returned the kickoff to the Saints 40 and had 61 yards on 14 carries.

Even more important, he secured the ball efficiently unlike Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson. There’s no doubt he has the speed, but he fumbled twice in a crucial contest. Percy Harvin flew with the Vikings to New Orleans, but was questionable on whether he would start or not. Of course, it didn’t matter.

Sad thing is, this could have been Favre’s final game. If so, he completed 28 of 46 passes with 310 yards and a touchdown. Sure you’ll remember the postseason passing record, but at the same time you’ll remember the interception late in the game.

The relentless Saints ended a surreal run for a battered Favre.

Believe it, the Saints are marching to Super Bowl 44.

The city is shedding tears of joy.

This is the sweetest story written in New Orleans.

So What if He Arrives Late, Reggie Bush Emerges on Time for Saints

Like the loudest musical performance appearing in New Orleans, the place was clamorous as the Saints inched closer to a trip to Miami. There’s no venue crazier or wilder than the Superdome, mainly because there’s no team in the league as exciting or electrifying as the Saints.

It’s a franchise, greatly, cherished for charming performances and amplifies mystique with the ability to put fear on teams still alive. Fear their ability to execute on all levels, a dimensional franchise that brought hope to a despairing town after a calamity struck New Orleans.

Sadly, Hurricane Katarina pierced the hearts of a helpless community and much was deprived, until the Saints marched in and lifted sanity. But there’s more to a feel-good story, and not only have a tenacious team cured souls. Realizing nothing the Saints have done is a fluke, the nagging fortitude and energy are elements to fear.

So each moment in the Superdome feels invincible, like the home team cannot lose. Respectively, a loyal crowd is attached to football embracing the franchise with craziness and intense screams, hungrier than the players themselves.

The emotions of euphoria carried the Saints to a level of belief, purging all debates and pontification of immortalities. In case you’re wondering, Mardi Gras has initiated prematurely on Bourbon Street, where a huge block party anticipates sparking a rejoicing celebrations. The fervid crowd will pour onto the streets, soaking in the greatest victory and memorable moment.

In the regular season, timeless flaws evoked dubious notions that the Saints weren’t the boundless contenders individuals had in mind. Late in the season, each moment revealed scary rationalization of New Orleans as a one-and-done team, based on a three-game losing skid to topple regard. During a sudden collapse, the Saints clumsily averaged 14.7 points when it was known for compiling the scoreboards. Every team has strengths and weaknesses.

The spectators entertained at the Superdome, a popular place to witness the aerial extravaganza, saw an efficacious Drew Brees hurl incredible passes to a bottomless receiver core. He exploited plays, designed to torment defenses. He executed plays opponents were unsuccessful stifling. Nothing in the Big Breezy stopped the creativity of jaw-dropping drives, which usually resulted in touchdowns.


Once again, the Saints had the swagger, finding its high-powered offense in time for the NFC Divisional round to literally manhandled the Arizona Cardinals, who again was noticed as the team from the desert with the word miracle written all over. Last year, we were caught by surprise when the Cardinals stunned the world and advanced to the Super Bowl, thanks to veteran quarterback Kurt Warner and wideout Larry Fitzgerald.

Your final score: 45-14

That decisive win punched a ticket to the NFC Championship game. The Saints await the winner of Minnesota and Dallas. But until then, an entire community relishes a moment of greatness. For some time, everyone waited for this moment, a time to erupt with the heroes of the town. The Saints are saviors, popular after alleviating the disastrous perceptions of reality. This is their city, this is their team, and this is their antidote to erase memories of a terrible tragedy.

As of now, New Orleans are marching, not to the nearest restaurant for gumbo, not to the local convenient store, not even to Bourbon Street to hear the soothing sounds of jazz, but marching with the Saints. With the exception of Brees, Reggie Bush, Devery Henderson, Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey, the boys of New Orleans reached the point where fans are convinced this is the year to shine.

If they win the championship rounds, the Saints won’t have to worry about hearing the discouraging word. Remember, it was a franchise belittled and referred as to the Aint’s. Those were the days, when the organization had suffocated dearly and fans protested and wore paper bags over their heads, deeply ashamed of the failures. But these days, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Instead they’re worshiping the Saints, proud of how far the team has come.


This wasn’t envisioned until he proved to us that he still has the swagger, finally translating to the pros. Reggie Bush was the hero. He was the player of the game. He earned the chants, “Reggie”, “Reggie”, Reggie!” Those choruses echoed inside the Superdome, where he played like he was at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. The former mighty Trojan dusted Arizona’s porous defense, bringing back memories of his prevailing era at USC.

This may have been the greatest sprint he advertised of his flowering NFL career, with a 46-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to set the tone and increase momentum. For those unfamiliar with Bush’s incomparable style, he was supposed to make an impact when he earned spotlight in his rookie season. He was supposed to be the best running back, to awe pro football devotees.

So what if he’s late, but what matters he’s succeeding expectations suddenly, meeting the tangibles of a stud running back. All of us waited for this moment, the emergence of Bush. And it happened in no better place than New Orleans, where the people live and die to witness triumphant junctures. The ability to break tackles, outrun defenders, and sprint in open field is a special knack.

That has given a better description of Bush in recent memory. I’m going to admit this was a breakout game, amassing 70 yards on four carries midway in the second quarter. I’ll be generous to confide, this was the greatest game of his career, which happened to come in the postseason when winning is critical.

His two touchdowns, 84 yards performance was a beautiful display, snapping the Saints out of a funk and back into offensive overdrive against the Cardinals, who yielded 90 points in the postseason, the most ever surrendered in two straight postseason games in a single season.

“We had a plan the whole time”, said Brees, who had a flawless game and passed for 247 yards. “It was hard for anybody to understand that plan if you’re not a member of my team, but we trusted in that plan, that process. We executed throughout the week and it showed in the game.”

Indeed, it did.

The Saints mastermind offensively is coach Sean Payton. Ever since he was brought in to solidify an offensive powerhouse, he has designed an effective rush attack. Turns out, he’s responsible for the emergence of Bush.

So what if Bush is late, he arrived on time. He came to the Saints aid.

Saints March In, Patriots March Out: 16-0 Belongs In New Orleans

If you believe in marching bands, the New Orleans Saints is the one franchise you believe in. On Bourbon Street, the most active street in the country, a festive crowd is marching with the Saints.


The Superdome, where inside the noise factor used to be silent and less entertaining, is now the loudest venue in the league.

Unlike before, 70,000 fans are now in the stands, optimistic the Saints can finish the season 16-0. In a friendly site, the powerhouse of the NFL happens to be New Orleans.

Is there a team able to match their intensity and hinder their unforeseen dominance? I wouldn’t think so.

As potent as the Saints are in a season, winning seems like an illusion, overpowering each opponent is discernible. With a 38-17 rout in a Monday Night Football showdown, the Saints degraded Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

Believe it or not, getting pummeled was as awful as Belichick’s fourth-down blunder two weeks ago, when he flunked the road test in Indianapolis.

Again, the Patriots were pushed around and described as amateurs, not the dynasty of our decade. So the most hated team in the league was again denied an opportunity to alleviate their road woes.

The Spygate suspects are latest victims of losing to the Saints, a franchise America has grown to accept for its inspirational loyalty within a community distressed when a tragedy left a town in self-destruction.

In contrast, our country has grown to hate the Patriots for Belichick’s devious tactics of deceiving the game. Since then, the Patriots have been featured as a sham, accumulating more Super Bowl victories than any team this decade.



















Now, the Saints polished into legitimate contenders and potentially can march to Miami. Assuming the Patriots weren’t Tom Brady-less, much absorption was given to New England, the almighty team of the NFL to begin the season.

At the start of the season, it is funny Drew Brees was ignored until a delusional population excluded doubt and followed the marching band.

At an 11-0, the Saints' star power is unstoppable and impossible to defeat. Remember, they’re unbeaten, as are the Colts, making us wish for a Saints-Colts Super Bowl, a wonderful combination in what should have the makings for an astounding Super Bowl matchup for the ages.

The Saints are nearing New England’s 16-0 regular-season record two years ago and the ‘72 Miami Dolphins' perfect NFL record.

Look at the schedule. If South Beach believes the record is untouchable, it could be the year the Saints fool us all and surpass an unimaginable milestone.


















If so, New Orleans would provoke the biggest celebration—perhaps bigger than Mardi Gras—and embrace the greatest Saints' team of all time. It’s possible with a light schedule.

Think about it.

I’ll be kind enough to define the Saints as the NFC champs a month in advance. It’s hard to imagine Brees and company faltering late in the season, especially against inferior teams.

Let’s all apologize to Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, and crown Brees as MVP.

What is suggested as the scorching debate, the MVP race is the most interesting in recent memory. But if you ask me, Brees earns my vote. The well-deserved award belongs to a compelling quarterback for rejuvenating a town devoid of much reverence amid a devastating tragedy.

Before his arrival, the Saints were the Ain’ts, consisting of an incompetent quarterback. Back then, the Saints were marching through a hellish period when seats were empty and television ratings were paltry. Now football is worth watching each week, and viewers are now guaranteed a captivating event.

They’ll obviously earn a top seed in the playoffs, but an awe-inspiring season is meaningless if the Saints stumble in the playoffs. Right now, New Orleans' storybook season seems relentless, while the Patriots’ horrid struggles continue to hurt a lousy defense on the road.

Against the Breezy Boys, Belichick’s defense was painful watching.

Here’s some statistics: In the game we all waited for, Brees manhandled and shoved Brady out of the spotlight. He completed 18-of-23 passes for 371 yards and an overwhelming 158.3 passer rating in a flawless performance against one of the greatest quarterbacks in the game.

It never was a quarterback duel, but simply a peculiar performance by Brady, who’s known for directing late finishes to secure victories in sensational contests, completed 21-of-36 passes for 237 yards and no touchdowns.

More shocking, Brady had no touchdowns, a rarity none of us could even imagine. Most of us would’ve forecasted that he’ll connect with Randy Moss for a touchdown. Even more stunning, he was replaced by rookie Brian Hoyer, a sign of quickly losing confidence in Brady.


He’s the one despised coach. He’s the one wearing a five-year-old hoodie. Belichick is the one blamed and criticized for the 4th-and-2 blunder at his own 28-yard line while leading by six. As a dynasty is receding, the beginning of a new one is emerging before our very eyes.

A coach by the name of Sean Payton has installed a high-powered offense, which has created an action-packed three hours of fun. Even deadlier and armed with competitors is a lethal defense.

For most opponents, the Saints are difficult to read defensively. Their aggressive and robust defense is established by the guru Gregg Williams.

Though the status of the secondary remains unknown, a veteran core is bonding as a cohesive unit. No secondary clobbered the Patriots' dynamic passing game as well as the Saints.

Just last week, Mike McKenzie signed as a utility cornerback and came to New Orleans’ aid in the secondary, disrupting the Brady Bunch.

Not much action was seen from an explosive Wes Welker or Randy Moss. Late in the third, Moss had a chance to complete a pivotal play to keep the drive alive for a potential comeback, but as usual, McKenzie interfered with the pass on 4th-and-4 at the Saints’ 10.

Keep in mind that Brees is the key to the Saints and has thrown for 5,000 yards this season, joining the company of Dan Marino for a remarkable plateau. Everyone understands the Saints have a solid supporting cast.

A plethora of reliable running backs in Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell is essential to a high-powered offense that is unstoppable.

Their rush attack is as dangerous as launching throws down field, applying all the fundamentals in the physical game of football.

Let’s all speculate. No team can beat the Saints. No team can stop the marching band.

Let’s all predict: 16-0.

From Aint's to Saints: Suddenly Contenders, Not Pretenders

Among all things, no atmosphere in America is as lively as the Superdome, where a large and energetic population gathers to root for a franchise that has encountered misery in prior years. But now, for skeptics who are blinded by surrealism, disbelieving is underestimating a team that has suddenly awakened and established itself into a playoff contender.

In recent years, we were accustomed to observing a franchise shamelessly enduring inferiority. On Bourbon Street the fans wore frowns, jaded in a downcast era.

The New Orleans Saints were still pretenders at the time, in disarray and embarrassed when an irritable crowd wore paper bags covering their heads to severely ridicule a futile franchise, critical on fizzles staining prominence.

Oftentimes, cheers were unlikely heard inside the lively dome and seats were empty. But then, the Saints were known as the Aint’s amid troubles when heartwarming emotions weren’t shared within a franchise that strongly needed applause, rather than unpleasant chants.

But now, a surreal perception convinces a cynical community to believe. Before, the entire community disowned the Saints, failing to entertain sensibility and ignoring chaotic flaws. No longer is there a reason to have bitter feelings or ignore the emergence of the Saints.

Their astonishing season isn’t a mirage, but a reality for a franchise suddenly transforming into a Super Bowl contender, having the necessary ingredients to finally present splendor in a town that witnessed countless afflictions.

Today, the Saints are marching in, beating anyone stepping in front. That's good vibes given the poor history, which staged negligence when lacking in victories, a category describing New Orleans as a joke in a sport that has emerged into America’s premier sport.

But today, they’re recognized for their dominance. They possess a driven mindset aiming for perfection, which would label the Saints as interesting competitors. And surely, no one has forgotten the devastating disaster, when Hurricane Katrina destroyed spirit.

In a despairing crisis, battered in the most devastating calamity, the franchise clearly emerged as America’s team. Suddenly, a tragic occurrence turned into an inspirational storyline as the hearts of most people rooting for the Saints uplifted an entire city. What transpired in the 2006 season was an inspirational scene, becoming contagious and exhilarating while facing dismal issues.

The Saints enthralled residents with a delighted victory in the season-opener on a Monday night to detract from the agonizing disaster. That was the loudest it was in years, but again, the Superdome still generates noise, making it difficult to hear the plays called on the field. By virtue, this is the loudest Saints' faithful have been in a long time, truly believing it's the year to dance in Miami and rejoice as a cohesive unit.

Above all, the aspiration of the Saints is positive thus far, negating four decades of futility. So now, reaching Super Bowl XLIV isn’t out of the equation, but instead it is part of the plans.

Their intent is to book hotel reservations, call the travel agent and purchase a one-way flight to Miami, where winning will bring excitement back to Bourbon Street, perhaps for a premature celebration. Having a Saints parade is a dream in a town accustomed to feasting on gumbo and Cajun dishes, but also Mardi gras, which will normally take place a week following the Super Bowl.

Similar to the sounds of jazz music, the Saints are jazzing things up with a 7-0 start, the best start in franchise history. It’s the most interesting team, an unbeaten core defying the tangibles, entertaining us with a well-designed pass-and-catch spectacle. It’s the most arousing team, consisting of weapons that could literally outplay a defensive unit, because of their sense of awareness and poise. It’s the most underestimated team given a horrid track record in previous seasons.

But what people fail to realize is the Saints are marching on in, not intimidated or uncomfortable, designing and executing with an effective passing game that has tortured a number of defenses. We should be rooting for New Orleans, a team with tremendous heart and intrepidity. And it happens to be the Saints, black and gold pride, now earning a fair amount of respect because of their wonderful breakout season.

Suddenly, a dramatic night finished with the Saints pulling it off late and turned a tense night into a crazy atmosphere as the delirious crowd witnessed New Orleans rise to perfection with a 35-27 victory over Atlanta.

Most of the citizens are thrilled, embracing a dynamic quarterback, Drew Brees, who’s definitely MVP-worthy, by compiling statistics each week and finishing Monday night with an unbelievable passer rating of 111.7.

He is, indeed, emerging into a Brett Favre type and embodies a charismatic mindset. Then, there’s his potent arm strength, along with trusting in a profound receiving core. Nonetheless, eventually each team encounters a roadblock, obstacles that suddenly arrive. The Saints arrived when they had to survive late against the Falcons fierce defense.

So basically, it was a high-powered offense vs. an underrated defense as Mike Smith, head coach and defensive specialist, tested and studied the league’s most sterling offense. And also the muscular defensive end John Abraham bull-rushed Brees.

To some extent, however, the Falcons strategized a well-designed tactic to frustrate the gunslinger, clearly believing a sturdy defensive assignment was a primary factor in handing the Saints their first loss of the season.

But, of course, the Falcons weren’t as intimidating in seizing control over the most-talented team in the NFL. As time trickled away in the fourth quarter, the Saints weren’t as dominant, failing to romp in a typical fashion.

The scoreboard indicated a probable disappointment, Saints surprisingly leading 28-24,until the Saints prolific cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted a pass tipped by Jonathan Vilma. He returned it for a game-changing touchdown, getting a break after the versatile Pierre Thomas, who rushed for 91 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown, fumbled on the Saints 35.

Mostly, poor ball-security hindered New Orleans. During an intense game, there were moments in the contest that they could have blown it open. That’s when careless lapses must be downsized in contests if the Saints want to pursue a raised championship banner inside the dome at the beginning of next season. What’s most impressive, though, is their irresistible defense, an underrated unit who forced Atlanta’s sensational quarterback, Matt Ryan, to launch mediocre throws.

Sometimes, when a contest is on the line, desperate passes might be a misstep, but Ryan had limited options and plenty of time to heave a prayer. Notice there’s not a defensive back as lethal in the backfield as Darren Sharper, who secured his seventh interception on the season, when he picked off Ryan.

Make no mistake, the much-improved defense deserves credit. If the Saints weren’t as reliable on defense, obviously there wouldn’t be much buzz escalating. The powerful defense has at least an interception in each game and committed to blitzes frequently, a model installed and influenced by new defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams.

Without a doubt, coach Sean Payton is best known for his shrewd offensive play calling, and could plot schemes successfully. Since the Saints consist of an unbeaten record, I’ll suggest Brees and agile wideout Marques Colston is an intriguing quarterback-receiver tandem in the league.

For instance, a well-executed offensive scheme occurred when Brees connected with Colston on an 18-yard touchdown pass. You might even suggest tight-end Jeremy Shockey is mellowing, finally avoiding behavior issues and emerging into a second target in Brees’ offensive method.

It’s enough talent as the Saints continuously improve as contenders, rather than pretenders. So now, once again, New Orleans is alive. Citizens are now interested to see if the Saints could attain a Super Bowl victory. As it stands, they’re built with tremendous talent.

Remember, the Aint’s no longer exist.