QBREES9

Now do you believe?

Deke Bellavia Reporting
If you were not in that number, and you still happened to be one of the folks that did not believe that the Saints were a legitimate Super Bowl contender before Sunday's amazing victory, you have to believe now! The New Orleans Saints are 6-0, and they have done everything a fan could possibly want in their first six games of the season.

Going into their matchup with the brash, arrogant and smack talking Dolphins... New Orleans was labeled as a team that had not been made uncomfortable in any of their previous five games. The Saints had never trailed in a game, they scored on every one of their first possessions and -simply put- had never had to play from behind.

Now with a dramatic comeback and six games down, what else can the so called intelligent analyst say bad about the New Orleans Saints? Can they say that the Saints are not a complete team? Can they say that the Saints have not been in a battle for four quarters? Can the say that the Saints are not the best team in the NFL? Hell no!

After being gashed, battered and bruised for the first half of their game with Miami, the Saints came out in the second half and started throwing haymakers on the Dolphins. Miami threw jabs in the first half and earned points on the scorecard, but New Orleans would be the team delivering the crucial blows when the fight was in the latter rounds. The Black and Gold sent another foe to the canvas with a 22-0 knockout punch in the final quarter.

New Orleans gave up 24 first half points. They allowed just ten in the second half. The Saints outscored the Dolphins 36-10 in the second half, including a dominant 22-0 fourth quarter romp. New Orleans has now outscored their opponents 74-12 in the fourth quarter of play this season.

"We just hung in there and hung in there, and I was proud of the way we responded. There were not a lot of good things that came out of the first half. I was just proud of the way we hung in their and got the win," said Sean Payton.

The Saints were exposed in some areas. What was more scary, though? The fact that the Saints fell behind 24-3 and were battered for much of the first half, or the fact that New Orleans made the necessary adjustments and came from behind in dominating fashion.

The Saints had a meager 112-yards of total offense, seven first downs and two turnovers that led to fourteen Miami points in the first half. In the second half, however, the Saints were shining like new money. They once again proved that they are the best in the land by completely flipping the first half script and turning the tables on the fins.

In final 30 minutes, the Saints racked up a total of 309-yards of offense. They limited the Dolphins to ten points in the second half and just 159-yards of total offense. New Orleans never got rattled, never showed signs of frustration and most importantly showed poise and veteran leadership on and off the field. That helped them put together what I think is the best comeback in club history.

Coach Payton said in his post game presser that his team did a lot of things wrong. He then said that the Saints just hung in there and found a way to win. This is a complete team.

Drew Brees came up big despite not having his best day, and he did so against a team in the Dolphins that had his number. Brees threw for a score and rushed for two more TD's. A year ago Drew would have had to play great for the Saints to win a game like this. Now Brees has a complete group around him, and as he has had their backs his first three seasons here in the Big Easy, now everyone has number nine's back. That is another sign of a complete team that looks like it is on the way to becoming a great team.

Last week I said that Who Dats should feel good about the way the Saints started the season. Now, Who Dats should feel great. New Orleans is clearly the best team in football, and now the Saints have a chance to run away with the division with upcoming home games against the Falcons and Panthers.

A week ago I also told you to enjoy the ride, and that this ride would be a long lasting and memorable one. Are you enjoying this ride? This is really happening people. Don't let years of negative talk about your club deter you from thinking that YOUR Saints can make it to Super Bowl Sunday.

This is 2009, and your team is 6-0. What was done or not done in the past has absolutely nothing to do with this team. The Saints have a two game lead in the NFC South, they are the only undefeated team in the NFC and New Orleans is only one of three unbeatens of thirty-two teams in the NFL. Don't look backwards look forward.

Now do you believe?

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "

Rugby Saint II

I'm looking forward to Mondya nights game . It is harder for me to get to Monday after I am used to a game every seven days. On the bright side next week will be shorter.