In the 1980’s the TV show ‘Dallas’ killed off Bobby Ewing in a season finale one year and brought him back the next. How did the show explain it? They said the whole season before was just a dream his wife had so in fact he wasn’t really dead.
Just kidding, everything’s fine you see.
I think the same thing happened to Saints fans over the weekend.
I could have sworn the Saints lost Saturday, a great number of fans are in panic, and the dream season is in serious trouble. But I woke up this morning and the Saints still lead Minnesota by two games for home field advantage. That horrible lose to the Cowboys was just a nightmare because there’s no way the Vikings went to Carolina, got beat 26-7, and Brett Favre had a sideline fight with his coach.
Clearly, that didn’t happen so I probably just dreamed it all?
Nope.
It all happened and the Saints are exactly where they were before they lost to the Cowboys; in complete control of the NFC. If the Saints beat Tampa they clinch home field and get an extra week off because the season finale in Carolina becomes meaningless.
The Saints need the rest badly. They just finished playing four games in 20 days and even when the crowd was crazy during the comeback Saturday the Saints still looked tired.
The defense didn’t seem to have the juice it had early in the year and taking every opponent’s best shot the last month clearly has taken a toll.
It seems to me it’s a case of injuries and the rest of the league catching onto Gregg Williams’ scheme.
Also, remember the Saints defense is designed to play from ahead. The offense jumps on the opponent, Gregg Williams dials up blitzes in obvious passing situations and the turnovers flow like hurricanes on Bourbon Street.
Worked like a charm early in the year then the Saints began to start slow and fall behind.
All of the sudden when teams could pound the ball on the Saints mediocre front seven and could throw on their injury riddled secondary the defense sank in the rankings faster than Tiger Woods approval rating.
The Saints defense was never great. What it wants to be is a series of haymakers thrown by Williams to get turnovers that Drew Brees turns into points. Saints opponent then fails further behind, has to throw to catch up, Williams blitzes more and before you know it the Saints have won 45-27.
Game over, let’s go to the French Quarter and get nuts.
Except now the Saints aren’t following the script.
The offense hasn’t been running at full speed since the New England game and everyone has the reason why: It’s the lack of running game, third down conversions, Drew Brees’ pre-game meal, or maybe Sean Payton isn’t smiling enough.
Against Dallas Sean Payton got out-coached. It happens. Wade Phillips brought an angry, desperate football team to the Dome and had the players and the plan to whip the Saints.
Now. they could be the trendy playoff pick to make a Super Bowl run.
The Cowboys played their best game in probably two years and are still in a struggle to make the playoffs. Do you really think a Wade Phillips coached team is going to play as good as it did Saturday for five more weeks? That’s what they have to do to make the Super Bowl.
You know what the Saints have to do to get to Miami? Play two more very good to great games.
Everyone is saying how the Saints aren’t peaking at the right time.
They don’t need to peak now; they need to be playing well during the opening playoff game.
Everything sets up perfect for them to do it. They get NFL bottom feeder Tampa Sunday which means the hurt and injured players shouldn’t be needed for a win.
So all banged up Saints should get a full three weeks more of rest. With just a touch of good fortune the Saints will open the playoffs the healthiest they’ve been since the Monday night game against Atlanta in Week 8.
Losing the chance at 16-0 stung just a little bit and Drew Brees even said so after the game but if you think any NFC playoff contender wouldn’t trade places with the Saints you are delusional.
Every team in the NFC has issues but I’ll still take a rested, healthy Saints team playing at home.
How great is 2009?
Even though the Saints lost, they didn’t lose anything at all.
Ralph Malbrough is a Saints fan living in Houston. He hosts a podcast at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/forecastradio. Email him at ralphmalbrough@hotmail.com or find him on Facebook.
