The only thing worse than all of those lame season preview columns are the first review ones that grade all the teams, no thanks.

I’m really hoping the Saints are a huge tease in the second half of the season.

Associated Press

Drew Brees led the Saints to a 37-32 win over the Charges in London Sunday.

Look, we all know the Saints are going to give us a giant four course meal of 8-8.

Believe it. Accept it. And be like me and embrace it.

Sure we all want better, but even when the Saints finish 8-8, it doesn’t mean this season can’t have some excitement.

How can 8-8 be exciting Ralph?

That means no playoffs, no important December games and probably just a boring second half.

If the Saints can be a giant tease, it doesn’t have to be that way.

The Saints can be a huge tease by going on a winning streak after the bye week.

They might not be that good but if they have, say, a three-game winning streak coming out of the break, just think how much fun we can have convincing ourselves they are a playoff team.

What’s more fun than a mediocre team going on a rampage for a month?

How much fun was last years climb to 4-4? Great times until the winless Rams stuffed all our playoff dreams in a Superdome garbage can.

I say if the Saints are going 8-8 it will be much more fun if they have a great November than a bad December.

Think of the possibilities.

Go to Atlanta, win and defeat the second coming of Brett Favre and suddenly the NFC South is in reach! How do I know the Falcons rookie quarterback is the next Brett Favre?

Peter King tells me so every Monday in his column.

After going to Kansas City and defeating a team with a future championship quarterback, Tyler Thigpen, it will be time to talk playoffs.

I know you are thinking, “Tyler Thigpen is a future championship winning quarterback?”

Absolutely. In Canada or maybe the Arena League. The point is, he’s a winner and the Saints just sacked him six times and intercepted him twice.

Sure, Chiefs coach Herm Edwards used all his timeouts before opening kickoff but the Saints are 6-4. Don’t ruin our party.

Then they can come home for a huge Monday night game against Green Bay.

They can win there when Drew Brees lights up the Packers defense and Aaron Rogers can prove to America he’s no Brett Favre because Tony Kornheiser will tell us so 450 times.

All of the sudden the Saints are 7-4. The sun is brighter, work isn’t so bad and Thanksgiving can be the joyous face stuffing holiday it was meant to be.

Of course, this will be followed by Will Smith, Deuce McAllister and Charles Grant getting suspended, the defense getting worse (yes, it’s possible) and a very disappointing December, which includes the Saints ninth kicker missing a 17-yard field goal to win a game.

Christmas won’t be as fun after the Saints get drop-kicked in Chicago and escape Detroit against the winless Lions for the season’s final victory.

Isn’t that scenario much more fun than win one, lose one or the Saints wrapping up 2008 on a meaningless winning streak to climb to .500 after a losing streak following the bye?

Of course it is. So go ahead Saints and tease us. Then break our hearts.

It shouldn’t be hard. You’ve shown you are really good at it the last 40 years or so.

OK onto the games

Last Week: 0-4-1

Season:  21-18-1

Atlanta (-3) at Oakland:  Is anyone else tired of the Matt Ryan love fest? Why do people gush over rookie QBs when they show they are smart enough not to eat paste? Just know after Ryan goes 13-for-17 for 125 yards and the Falcons win. Peter King might need a cold shower. Falcons 31-17

Miami (+3) at Denver: I’ll actually be at this game. I’m really hoping Ricky Williams rushes for four touchdowns so I can make about 500 inappropriate comments involving Ricky, Rocky Mountain high and John Denver. You have no idea how excited I am. Dolphins 38-17

Tampa Bay (-8.5) at Kansas City: I don’t want to believe a team can get to the playoffs when they throw five-yard passes all day. Has any person run a team as long as Carl Peterson has in Kansas City and not won anything? This will likely be unwatchable.Bucs 20-3

St. Louis (+3) vs. Arizona: The Rams didn’t pull a Haslett last week and come out flat as a pancake. If they keep this up St. Louis might sign up for the Haslett experience full time. If the Cardinals win this game they’ll have a stranglehold on the NFC West. The Cardinals aren’t capable of having a stranglehold on anything except their own necks when they choke. Rams 24-21

Dallas (+8.5) at New York: Believe me no one enjoys shoveling dirt on the Cowboys more than I. Still, I’m thinking the injury-riddled ‘Boys at least put up a good fight. If they don’t, ESPN can go back to 24-hour-a-day ‘Cowboys in Crisis’ mode. Giants 23-17

Ralph Malbrough is a Saints fan living in Houston. He can be reached at ralphmalbrough@hotmail.com. He also hosts an internet Saints radio show tonight at 7:30 and has WWLTV.com’s Bradley Handwerger as a guest to discuss the Saints first half Listen at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/forecastradio or download archived editions at iTunes.