I can't help but be reminded of what happened in '02
 

While we're all stoked beyond belief at the skill and character of this team, Stockton said something at the end of today's game that gave me pause. We're 5-1 for the first time since 2002...

Well, we had 4 poor games immediately following that 5th win that year, dumping three of them. Then Delhomme made a fourth quarter completion to ensure a 2nd win over eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa...we were 9-4. Then that bastard Tice goes for two in a 31-30 game at Minnesota, converting and sending us into that miserable 3 game slide that would lock us out by virtue of Atlanta's tie with Pittsburgh.

The South is going to be exactly that tight this season. The cast of characters has been altered slightly - it'll be Carolina instead of Tampa. We've got a win over Atlanta which we didn't have in '02, and while we have the tiebreaker on them right now even if we dump at the Georgia Dome (they have 2 NFC losses, 1 in the South :) ), things could will get hairy around Christmas time.

What buoys my spirits personally is this team's resiliancy. The big comeback against Green Bay and today's 4th quarter heroics are things that the '02 Saints were completely incapable of. It'll be just like '02 in that 10-6 is the watermark record to making the playoffs, and from my perspective we must win one of those three games against the AFC North. And Baltimore may just settle that issue...they sure looked vulnerable against Carolina, and we finally have a true homefield advantage.

10-6 is very possible. 12-4 isn't at all out of the question. I'd chalked today's game up as a loss - but now that we know just how capable of winning tight games against good teams they are, am I off my rocker in thinking that we can't win: at Pittsburgh, at Atlanta, and at NYG? And what game should we all have our eye on, the game like Minnesota in '02, that could jump up and bight us on our asses? I'm thinking it's vs. SF...

Damn You dogg!

I thought the same thing and was afraid to jinx us.
Way to go.
If we don't win the Super Bowl............
It's ALL YOUR FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pandora has opened the box!
Alot riding on your canine shoulders now. :ohno:

Sorry RMS...I should just delete that garbage. I wasn't trying to dig up the painful past...I was trying to examine our present situation through that lens to see what was different. And there are three huge differences:

1)The difference between Brees and Brooks (HUGE)
2)A win over Atlanta at home
3)Evidence of a resiliant team.

You may have brought it up as a joke, but having beaten the Eagles, could we beat the Bears? In Soldier Field? Don't answer that if you understand the implications and don't want to exacerdate the jinx I just laid down.

Never, EVER, mention that Minnesota game again. I was there, I still get nightmares.

I was totally joking.

The thought of playing the Bears in Chicago?
Unless it is in the NFC championship game OOPS! I don't want to contemplate that right now.
Lord.
I am like a dog that has been coaxed with the promise of food only to be kicked in the head and sent home hungry with the sound of laughter ringing in my ears.
Or if you will.
Like Charlie Brown trying to kick Lucy's football.
I am cautiously optimistic.
I am also overjoyed that we are 5-1 Baby!
My expectations for this season have been surpassed already.
Geaux Saints!

..please follow the link :) http://blackandgold.net/site/index.p...0f9c639b9505e1

This team appears to be the best I've seen in my 20 years as a Saints fan, and all your points are well-taken tobias. But what about the road games at Pit, Atl and NYG? Can we win one of those? And is it possible that this team can win every game they're supposed to? I'm a believer so far, but still cringing like good ol' Charlie the way RMS said.

I hate Minnesota. Words really can't express how much I hate the Vikings.

Back in 1988, I think it was the first time we ever made it to the post season, they beat us 44-10. My first lesson in humility growing up.

Then we lose to them after our 1st playoff win against the Rams. F-ing Buzzkill.

Their purple uniforms suck too!

Oh it's more than that...there's the 2 point conversion in '02, and don't forget them laying an egg against Washington in week 17 '04 which put us in a tiebreaker with them instead of StL for the last playoff spot, locking us out. Time and again those Viking bastards have kept us out or knocked us out of the playoffs.

I really hate the Vikes, plus the memory of our beloved Archie in a Vikings uniform at the end of his career makes me tear up.

This VERY MUCH needs to be kept in the back of people's minds. In fact, that Saints team started out 6-1. Had me thinking they might be headed for a Super Bowl. Hell, they even swept Tampa Bay (the team that went on to win it all) that year!

Let it just be a reminder of what CAN happen, and not necessarily what WILL happen.

We will win the Super Bowl and then be promptly sold to the highest bidder by that kaniving Mr. Benson.

I dont think he is going to sell...He realizes now that this team could make him as much money as those car dealerships one day in the NFL keeps groing like it does...If it already doesn't..he wants to keep it in the family maybe not in La but he does want to keep it...I am most of the time overly optimistic about the Saints...I predicted a Kool-Aid Swilling 12-4...However, I dont think these coaches are going to let this team get complacent like Haz and only rally them when he needs them to save his job...

Problem is I think the road to Miami no matter where your coming from is going to be in Chicago...When we get closer to the end of the season we will know if there is a chance of avoiding a game at Soldier Field...Obviously Chicago would have to lose some games and just looking at their schedule the only opponents I see as potential Bear Hunters are the Giants, the Rams, and the Pats; one could make an argument that the Bucs have potential to do the feat, but they have only beat the Bungles and lets face how surprised were you based on the way the played us last week and given the situation in Cincy...However, with the way this coaching staff has performed I wont put it out of reach to get a victory in Chi-Town

I got into a big arguement with someone over this very thing. Sheldogg...all I can say is that this time....it all just feels different. We can't go around dreading and pondering the what if's. I know we are Saints fans and I know the negative abuse that we have enured but you gotta trust me and everyone here when we say....BELIEVE buddy....BELIEVE!!!! This is not over yet....not by a looong shot. I used to cheer the Saints when they would pull of a victiry by some miracle. Even when we went down to Philly, this time, I was so fired up....so were the fans (trust me..I heard it)..and you could see it in the players. Its all very different now.

That popped into my mind too. No worreis though. This is a completely different team.

We don't have Smiley or Iron Hands Stallworth around to destroy the offense anymore.

We could lose some games because we have a very tough schedule ahead, bu we're going to the playoffs as division winners.

The Bears are losing to the Cardinals tonight, 14-0..
Go Cards...
As good as the Bears are right now I'm not 100% sold on them just yet.

Carolina's going to win this division, baring injury.

Why did we take such a giant crap on Delhomme anyhow?

He's gone, find a way to get over it.