If Only the Saints had scored from the goal line to tie the score in the 2^nd Quarter.

If only Pierre Thomas could have gotten three feet late in the 4^th quarter.

If only Martin Gramatica would have kicked that field goal.

The NFL is a league where the difference between 1-2 and 3-0 is about four plays.

If only the Saints could be on the correct end of those three or four plays.

In a game the Saints basically controlled for the final three quarters they missed a golden opportunity to ignite the 2008 season.

Win yesterday and everything is different. First place, momentum, three straight home games and the world is all sunshine for the Black and Gold.

Alas, it was not to be.

So what exactly are we left with?

The good; the Saints appear to be able to throw the ball no matter who plays receiver. Drew Brees was without Marques Colston and David Patten and it seemed to not make one bit of difference.

Denver is as bad as the Saints on defense but Brees was in complete control and the Saints passing game looked mostly unstoppable.

Reggie Bush is looking more and more like what everyone thought he would be. Yeah he only catches screens and swing passes but so what? Teams appear to have no way of stopping it.

While his critics howl and say he’s not an every down traditional running back. That’s true but maybe it means he won’t take as much of a pounding and he might have a longer career than say Adrian Peterson?

Also while the defense is still giving up yards by the truckload it did create two turnovers, a safety, and was solid against the run.

The defense is never going to get stops consistently but if they can get turnovers that will be enough to win games.

Now I need to have a word with Sean Payton.

Dear coach, I’m not sure why you keep running the ball straight ahead on third and short with Pierre Thomas even though your offense line has shown no ability to run block.

By anyone’s estimation Drew Brees is an elite NFL quarterback, so why do you refuse to put the game in his hands at crunch time.

I think I speak for most Saints fans when I say we are really getting tired of the whole, “Hey, they should be able to ask us to get one yard offensively. You can ask any one of those offensive linemen, if the coach asks you to get one yard, can you get it? And they'll say absolutely, without a doubt. So, hey, that's something we've got to be able to do. Great teams are able to do that.' Even though Drew Brees said that and not you, at this point the Saints trying to play power football is like the dog trying to play the trumpet.

Here’s the thing; The Saints are not able to get that yard by running Pierre Thomas up the middle or off tackle. It has failed three straight weeks, five straight times.

Try something else. Anything else. Reverse (We’ve seen it before), flea flicker, swing pass, hypnosis, sing a song or even try a second line dance. At this point we are open to the possibilities as long as it’s NOT PIERRE THOMAS STRAIGHT AHEAD.           

Your running game at this point is the worst I can remember the Saints ever having and believe me coach that’s saying something. So why fight a losing battle? You trying to run the ball is like a fat guy forgoing the extra piece of pizza because he’s watching his figure.

What’s the point? So just do something else already.

You face three straight home games and if you don’t figure out how to get a yard on third down the 2008 season will by over by October.

  Ralph Malbrough is a Saints fan living in Houston. He can be reached at ralphmalbrough@hotmail.com. He also hosts an internet radio show at http://www.blogtalkradio/forecastradio. You can listen live or download archived editions at itunes.