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Drew Brees' goalpost dunk signaled New Orleans Saints were on the rise
By Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

Times-Picayune reporters Nakia Hogan and Mike Triplett and columnists John DeShazier and Jeff Duncan select the play they believe was the defining moment of the New Orleans Saints' 2009 Super Bowl season.
The New Orleans Saints' game at Miami in Week 7 looked like the classic trap game.
The Saints were coming off an emotional "statement" victory against the Giants and had to travel to Miami for a road game against an unfamiliar opponent.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, had won consecutive games before taking a bye week to rest and prepare for the Saints. They looked like a team on the rise.
I clearly remember Saints vice president of marketing Ben Hales jabbing me in the press box before the game about picking against the Saints. It was the first time I'd done so all season.
When Miami raced to a 24-3 lead, I looked like a genius. The Saints looked lethargic and unmotivated, nothing like the juggernaut that rolled through its first five foes.
But things changed right before halftime. The Saints desperately punched in a late touchdown thanks to a careless Miami turnover and a coaching blunder by Tony Sporano.
It was the spark the Saints needed. One of the great comebacks in team history was under way.
The Saints finally took the lead for a good on a quarterback sneak by Drew Brees. After the fourth-quarter score, Brees emphatically spiked the football over the goal post in the far end zone. It was an uncharacteristically emotional display by the Saints leader.
The symbolism was evident. This wasn't the same old Saints. This was a team on the rise.
Before it was over, the Saints would score 29 points in the final head-spinning 16:09. As the clock expired, thousands of Saints fans celebrated in the near empty stadium, effectively turning Land Shark Stadium into Superdome South. Anthony Hargrove and Darren Sharper traded Who Dat chants with fans on the way to the tunnel.
This was the kind of game past Saints teams lost. But this was different.
And Who Dat Nation recognized it. Thousands of fans greeted the team home at the airport. They could sense something truly special was under way. They believed. And so did II never picked against the Saints again.

exile

Oh what a moment. There were so many of these throughout the year but I agree this was a turning point slam dunk for the franchise.

Rugby Saint II

I agree it signaled that a change had taken place in the attitude of all players on the team. It was uncharacteristic for Brees to leave his usual reserved role. The fans knew something was different this year.

cajun911

I feel it showed that we weren't the same old Saints. We wouldn't lay down, we wouldn't beat ourselves and give the game away.

homerj07

I agree a great moment BUT there were a lot. I thik the real turn-around started in the offseason!!