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At the beginning of the year, New Orleans coach Sean Payton’s record indicated he might be another Jim Haslett. Ten games later, his record says he might become the next Bill Belichick, matching the Patriots’ 16-0 record from 2007.

That’s like upgrading from Les Miles to Nick Saban or Aaron Brooks to Drew Brees or Dixie to Abita beer. If the Saints beat the New England Patriots at the Superdome on Monday night, the comparison will be even more interesting.

These days, Belichick is the coach being ripped for an unconventional, overly aggressive late-game call, not Payton. Belichick’s decision to go for a first down on fourth-and-2 from the New England 28 while protecting a 4-point lead against Indianapolis has been dissected a hundred times more than Payton’s crazy reverse call that led to a fumble and turned a late lead against Tampa Bay into a loss two years ago.

Belichick’s team has closeout issues, not Payton’s.

New England has lost three times despite being third in the NFL in scoring, second in scoring defense and second in turnover margin. In those defeats, opponents outscored the Patriots 47-10 in the second half and 34-10 in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots led the New York Jets 9-3 at the half and lost 16-9. They led the Denver Broncos 17-7 at the half and lost 20-17 in overtime. They led the Indianapolis Colts 24-14 at the half and lost 35-34.

New Orleans has outscored opponents 105-24 in the fourth quarter and 188-78 in the second half.

The Saints trailed the Miami Dolphins 24-10 at the half and won 46-34. They trailed the Carolina Panthers 17-6 at the half and won 30-20. They were tied at 14 with the St. Louis Rams at the half and won 28-23.

New England is the team with a one-dimensional offense, not New Orleans. The Patriots average 4.0 yards per carry, 23rd best in the NFL. The Saints average 4.8 yards per carry, fifth best in the NFL and their highest total ever.

On Monday night, New England can slam the door shut on New Orleans’ pursuit of perfection and slow down the Saints’ assault on the 2007 Patriots’ NFL record for touchdowns (75) and points (589).

Win or lose, though, the Patriots can’t halt the Saints’ remarkable progress. So much for the comparisons between Payton and Haslett, whose first three as coach in New Orleans were eerily similar.

Crusader

That comparison is a little scary lets just hope Payton continues to move away from Hasletts legacy. Still I have no ill feelings towards Haslett he did what he could especially durin the Katrina year and you could see how it broke him down.

"There's no crying in football.. unless you are Tom Brady."
-exile

Euphoria

Yeah well when Haslett took over for the Rams mid-season that one year they actually started turning around and won a few games. They went with another coach in the off season and haven't been the same since.

E U P H O R I A

Rugby Saint II

This title caught me off guard. My first thought was what happened did coach Payton get caught cheating? I know SP would always play by the rules...not to say he wouldn't stretch or bend a rule but he wouldn't cheat. Now comparing him to a coach who knows how to run a winning program is one thing I could live with. Also, poor Haslett was in over his head.

rich006

Maybe when Payton's reputation rises high enough, people will learn how to spell his name....

"I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain."