With three week’s left in the 2008 football season there is only one question left worth asking about the Saints: Can they do it outside?

So far they have not been up to the task.

Associated Press

New Orleans Saints runningback Reggie Bush rushes against Atlanta in December 2008.

The last two Saints seasons have ended in Chicago and for all intents and purposes the Saints face the exact same thing this Thursday. Either win in the cold weather or start thinking about 2009.

After 30 plus years in the Superdome, though, the Saints are finally built to take full advantage of their indoor home.

The Saints are one home win away from having their best home season ever. (For the purpose of this column, the strike season of 1987 doesn’t count.)

While most people are screaming at Sean Payton, “We told you the Saints needed to run the ball more, and you finally did it!” I didn’t see the Saints 29-25 win simply in those terms.

The season high 184 yards rushing was a huge part of the Saints keeping their faint playoff hopes alive, but what struck me most is how ‘Dome-centric’ the Saints have become on offense.

Sean Payton has designed and built an offense on timing and speed. Since they play in a climate-controlled stadium at least eight times a year, why wouldn’t they do things that way?

Reggie Bush, Devery Henderson, Marques Colston and Lance Moore give the Saints offense an explosive ability almost no other offense in the NFL can match.

The bad news is Soldier Field in Chicago will not have the perfect weather conditions of the Dome.

Can the Saints ever show offensive balance away from home? Even though Pierre Thomas looked great by rushing for 102 yards, I’m not sold he’s the long-term answer to tandem Reggie Bush.

And neither does Sean Payton. Don’t believe me?

On the biggest play of the season with the Saints facing a fourth and one at the Atlanta 7 yard line, who got the ball? It wasn’t Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush or even Deuce McAllister.

Mike Karney got the call.

To me that means Pierre Thomas hasn’t solidified anything yet. If Payton believed completely in Thomas, then he gives him the ball there. It doesn’t mean Thomas can’t convince the Saints he can be the guy, but this issue is far from decided.

While the Saints offense has been almost unstoppable at home, the defense has been far from it.

Although I would argue in theory the Saints had the perfect plan for a ‘Dome Defense.’

Going into the season the idea was the Superdome crowd noise alongside Charles Grant, Will Smith and Bobby McCray would create a dominant pass rush, which would allow the Saints aggressive corners to make plays.

Hasn’t worked out, but the Saints secondary does play better at home -- they are just terrible there and not pathetic.

The Saints corners have at least have made a handful of big plays at home. On the road, not so much, which brings us back to Chicago. 

The Saints still trail five teams in the wildcard race, and I’m not about to predict a run to the playoffs. But I will say if the Saints win in Chicago, then during the season finale against Carolina everybody will be doing some serious scoreboard watching because the Saints will be very much alive for a playoff spot.

It all comes down to Chicago.

Again.

If I didn’t know better I’d think the Saints are living in some sort of football groundhog day involving the Chicago Bears.

Look at this way: it beats the alternative. 

Ralph Malbrough is a Saints fan living in Houston. He can be reached at ralphmalbrough@hotmail.com. He also hosted an Internet radio show post game show Sunday at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/forecastradio you can listen or download archived editions at iTunes.