New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - From the locker room: New Orleans Saints defensive end Alex Brown

Before Thursday night’s 14-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the fewest points the Saints had scored in a win under coach Sean Payton was 19. They did that in his first game, a 19-14 triumph over the Cleveland Browns to open the 2006 season.

You have to go back seven years to find a Saints victory with fewer than 14 points, and that was a meaningless 13-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys when the Saints finished 8-8 and the Cowboys already had locked up a wild card for the playoffs.

Minnesota had 12 first downs eight months after picking up 31 against the Saints in the NFC Championship Game. Running back Adrian Peterson gained 87 yards eight months after finishing with 122. Brett Favre threw for 171 yards eight months after passing for 310.

Defensive end Alex Brown, the only starter who was not on the team last year, talked about the outstanding effort.

How did you guys hold the Vikings to 9 points?

“To do it you have to do a lot of things right. We were able to do a lot of things right tonight. I’m sure we missed some things, but for the most part we did things right. Coach (defensive coordinator Gregg) Williams called a great game, and we were able to execute. But to hold a team like that with a damn good quarterback and probably the best running back in the league and a really good offensive line, we did some special things.”

Did you blitz more in the second half?

“I’m not sure we did. Whatever coach called, we just ran it. We just had to make the play. That’s all we were doing. We were coming from all different directions, every angle, every facet on the field. We were just coming after him.”

Is that as good as a defense can play, holding the Vikings to nine points?

“No. They should have gotten three. They should have had three. They hit a couple seem routes on that last drive before the half. That’s something we can definitely get better on. That’s what we’ll try to do. We’ll try to get better and get better and get better, that’s the whole focus. We said last week that whoever wins this game, it’s just 0-1 or 1-0, that’s it. We haven’t won anything. We have to understand this game’s behind us. It’s time to go back to work.”

How frustrated was the defense at half after giving up that long drive?

You know what, we blocked the extra point. We don’t take plays off, it doesn’t matter. We gave up a touchdown, but that blocked extra point, we were a field goal from taking the lead because Remi (Ayodele) made a hell of a play blocking that kick. That shows that every single play is important throughout the game. Everything changes because they are not up by three. They are up by 2.

Is the atmosphere tonight the reason you came to New Orleans?

I came here to win. The atmosphere is unbelievable, absolutely amazing, but winning has definitely become an every-game thing. That’s what we expect to do. This is a good starting point. We intend to get better. If we continue to get better, we’ll win a lot around here.

What’s it like playing for Greg Williams?

“Absolutely unbelievable. He puts us in position to make plays. As long as you expect to be that guy to come open, you are going to come open. One of these guys is going to make the play. He called a hell of a game. He’ll never take credit for it, but he called a hell of a game.”

This team hasn’t won 14-9 games in the past. What does that say about this defense?

“A lot of people think that we are the same team. No, we’re a better team, I believe. It’s going to take a hell of a team to beat us. We’re just 1-0, but we are a really good team here. To come in here and beat us is going to take a pretty damn good team.”