On November 25th, 1980 Roberto Duran fought Sugar Ray Leonard in the Superdome and quit the fight in the eighth round by reportedly saying, “No Mas”. On Monday night the Patriots did the same.
The New Orleans Saints so thoroughly dismantled the Patriots that Bill Belichick pulled Tom Brady with five minutes left and started looking forward to next week. For all the fans crying for respect, you just got it from the NFL Gold Standard.
Bill Belichick is as ruthless a coach as there is in the NFL. I say that as the ultimate
compliment.
The guy coaches the game exactly how he wants and doesn’t care what the media or fans think or say.
He’ll go for it on fourth and two inside his own 30-yard line or run up the score on a team and afterwards mumble something about just playing the game until the clock runs out.
Last night he raised the white flag way before the clock said 0:00.
After re-watching the game when I got home the thing that stuck out besides how spectacular Drew Brees played (He’s never been better) was the fact the Patriots didn’t play badly on defense.
Devery Henderson got loose on a busted coverage for a 75-yard score but all the other Saints drives involved Brees making great throws.
New England players were in position but Brees was literally perfect.
On defense the Saints were exceptional and did what they do.
Forget the stats.
The Saints defense isn’t the 1985 Bears. They give up yards and points but when they are playing well they make key stops and force turnovers.
Mike McKenzie intercepted Brady with the Saints trailing 7-3 and turned momentum. Then with the Saints leading 31-17 McKenzie had a pass breakup on fourth down. The Saints also held Randy Moss to three catches.
Oh about Mike McKenzie. Mickey Loomis and the front office took their player personal decisions golden touch to a ridiculous level. Both starting corners injured? No problem.
The Saints will just sign Mike McKenzie and he’ll play exactly the way he did in 2007 when he was spectacular.
By the way, what does it say about other NFL teams who passed on signing McKenzie?
Are you telling me the Browns, Falcons, Packers, Giants, or Dolphins couldn’t use McKenzie to help their beat up or terrible secondaries?
It’s not just skill or luck. At this point the Saints 2009 front office is magical.
If they signed Ricky Jackson out of retirement I’m totally sold.
Do you have a better explanation?
At 11-0 the Saints still have 10-1 Minnesota right on their tail. So the drive for 16-0 isn’t so much a goal for history but necessity.
Both teams are on a collision course for dare I say the most anticipated NFC Title game ever?
Between now and then the party known as the 2009 football season continues.
A few weeks ago I thought injuries might put the party on hold while the Saints defense got healthy. I was wrong.
What was I thinking? In New Orleans the party never stops.
Party on. Party on.
Ralph Malbrough is a Saints fan living in Houston. Email him at ralphmalbrough@hotmail.com, find him on facebook, or listen to his Saints podcast at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/forecastradio
