It took a lot for the Saints to avoid the doldrums of the week after winning your biggest game of the year, the letdown, and perhaps to overcome the devastating effect of me not being able to keep up with the news by failing to report on the previous week’s game. My bad; I’ll try to keep up this time.
Now this is what really separates 6-0 from 5-1, a team down 21, facing adversity and showing people that they know HOW to win; not how to ride a wave, like they did in 2006 or so many other years before. The first and fourth years of the Saints under Sean Payton and Drew Brees as their quarterback are perfect examples of contrast; 5-1 shows you can ride a wave; 6-0 says you know how to win. Back in 2006, the Saints obviously didn’t know how to beat the Carolina Panthers on October 1st, 2006 which is why they were 5-1 after six games.
Who knew that the game against the Miami Dolphins would have a bigger statement to be made for the Saints than the New York Giants. They were virtually the best team in the league and ended up being just another one of those easy, pushover, preliminary games just before the sudden smackdown of the buzz saw. What else is new in the NFL? Anyway, the Saints did make a huge statement in Miami and appropriately and ironically made in the stadium of Super Bowl XLIV. They will at last be able to head into Monday Night Football in front of their own fans against the Atlanta Falcons undefeated at 6-0. Now can the Saints avoid the letdown after avoiding the letdown? Should be easier and certainly more comforting knowing that it is an opponent we know really well and the game is in front of 70,000 rabid squirrels rooting for you. Oh, and they had to play a game last week.
Jake's Sports Corner 