METAIRIE, La. – For nearly 10 years, New England has represented the model NFL franchise – making four Super bowls, winning three and continually playing some of the best football the league has seen nearly every Sunday.
The Patriots are the team to emulate, the team other team’s strive to be like.
And for New Orleans, Monday night’s 7:30 game against New England represents an opportunity to see just how far it has come in its attempt to become the next Patriots.
“I think all of us are trying to get where these guys have been and where they’re at,” Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said. “They’re in the front when you look at Super Bowls played in, postseason games won, playoff records.
“There’s some numbers there that are unbelievable, certainly I’ve used this analogy before, if you come into a program a few years back like we were, you have to pay attention to the Microsoft’s of the world, if you’re someday wanting to compete in that industry.”
Much of the success for New England has come in the second half of the season, when playoff pushes begin.
Since 2001, New England is 72-18 after Nov. 1. It has only lost two games after Thanksgiving the past two seasons.
And since 2001, Head Coach Bill Belichick has led New England to a 104-34 record, a 75.4 percent winning percentage, the highest of any team over that span.
So, how far has Payton gone in trying to figure out how the Patriots have done it?
First, he pulls film of New England – among other teams – during the offseason, picking apart what the Patriots do well and what they do great.
Then, when the Saints staff coached the NFC Pro Bowl team in 2006, Belichick’s staff led the AFC team. Paayton was able to question Belichick on certain things, including practice schedules and how the Patriots prepare for a game week.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees said the team has to be careful to not make this game feel anymore important than any other game. Naturally, however, he followed that thought up by saying that playing the Patriots is, in fact, a completely different animal.
“That's who a lot of us are emulating,” Brees said. “We're trying to be what they built. That's why you can put this game even a little further up there. You know how important it would be to get a win, to keep the streak going, but also just to continue to gain confidence as you move forward.”
Added Saints tight end David Thomas, “I’ve been there. What you’re going to get with them is a well-coached football team with really good football players and they’re going to be ready to play us. They always have a good plan and a good scheme so it’s going to be a good test for us.”
But truth be told, New England’s success started before 2001. Robert Kraft took over 1994 and though it took years for the franchise to get the formula right, the foundation was set.
Since 1994, New England is 180-94, including 10 trips to the postseason and eight division titles. In the 33 years prior to his ownership, New England won only 45 percent of its games and had been to the playoffs only five times. The Patriots have won more games and lost fewer than any other team in that time period.
Hiring Belichick, who struggled with Cleveland as the head coach from 1991-95, has been his best move, though. Belichick inspires a confidence in the New England locker room that transfers into games.
“Without being there, I don’t think you can really know what they do around their own facility, how they have their practice,” New Orleans linebacker Scott Shanle said. “I know one thing – when you develop a winning culture, it’s a snowball effect and it’s a confidence effect. They definitely have that working for them.
“There are never any weeks they doubt whether they can win. I think that’s a huge part of what they have going for them.”
Sitting at 10-0, the Saints have taken one step. A win on Monday night, however, would be a much bigger step.
