New Orleans Saints get a win, even in the loss to Carolina

QBREES9 · 01-04-2010, 11:57 PM

New Orleans Saints get a win, even in the loss to Carolina
By Peter Finney, Times-Picayune
January 04, 2010, 6:05AM

Saints win.

That's right.

We're not talking about one of those "moral" victories.

We're talking about reality.

We're talking about what the past has told us.

But here's a question: How can you talk reality when reality tells us no team that finished the regular season 0-3 and got to the playoffs ever made it to the Super Bowl?

Isn't that correct?

It is.

But it's only part of the story.

Reality also tells us this: No New Orleans Saints team ever started the regular season 13-0.

Of course, reality also tells us a team that went 16-0 in the regular season did not win the Super Bowl.

Which brings us to the bottom line: More than anything, reality tells us every season brings us another definition of "reality."

As for the 13-3 Who Dats, I don't care how the next several weeks unfold.

I say New Orleans Coach Sean Payton did the right thing in giving quarterback Drew Brees, along with several other game-ready front-liners, a rest.

The Saints won Sunday because they made every effort to go into the postseason perhaps healthier than they've been since October.

Which is why I say finishing 0-3, after a 13-0 beginning, will not determine whether they get a shot to play for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

It will come down to something else entirely, something that history has told us going back to the first X-and-O war.

It will depend on Payton and Gregg Williams coming up with the kind of playoff game plans, on offense and defense, to handle the adjustments New Orleans opponents have made, adjustments the Saints have not taken advantage of down the stretch.

At playoff time, "cold" teams have a way of becoming "hot" teams in the way they go after the enemy.

Unlike recent seasons, when the Patriots were lord and masters, we're heading into a playoff with no team in either conference wearing the tag of solid favorite.

The Saints will have a Superdome with wall-to-wall Who Dats cheering for them, but, as you watched performances against the Cowboys and Buccaneers, you realized an awesome decibel level can't do it all.

In his first shot as a playoff coach in 2006, it wasn't Brees' passing (243 yards) as much as it was Deuce McAllister's running (143 yards) that carried the Saints to a 27-24 victory over the Eagles at the Superdome.

A week later in Chicago, McAllister rushed for 18 yards, the Bears for 196, as Chicago won the infantry battle, and the game-plan war, on its way to the Super Bowl.

While the Payton of '09 does not have a Deuce, he seems more wedded to a running game built around Pierre Thomas, someone you might say comes close to the rushing equivalent of Drew Brees.

No one, and his bruised ribs, deserved a Sunday rest more than the Deuce of today.

As the Saints prepare to start a sudden-death season, one loss and you're history, the crucial days will not be this week, but next week, once Payton and Williams begin to plot cerebral marching plans.

On offense, the stat sheet tells us, the highest scoring team in the league has gone 17-17-10 in their last three outings.

What do you do about that?

On defense, once the Panthers traveled close to the length of the field for their final touchdown Sunday, we were reminded it was the fourth 90-yard touchdown drive allowed by the Saints this season.

Is there an answer?

The offense can't score touchdowns, and the defense allows too many big plays.

That's reality.

Listen to the pundits, on radio and TV, and they've got the answers.

Listen to Saints safety Darren Sharper, a 13-year veteran of NFL combat, and he makes the most sense: "Whoever plays the best game is gonna win."

Listen to Kurt Warner, the Cardinals quarterback, talk about resting your regulars or playing them to keep momentum going: "One way or another, you'll be second-guessed."

Which reminded me what a football coach once told me: "You know what momentum is? Momentum is having a 21-0 lead.

01-04-2010, 11:57 PM	#1
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,989	New Orleans Saints get a win, even in the loss to Carolina New Orleans Saints get a win, even in the loss to Carolina By Peter Finney, Times-Picayune January 04, 2010, 6:05AM Saints win. That's right. We're not talking about one of those "moral" victories. We're talking about reality. We're talking about what the past has told us. But here's a question: How can you talk reality when reality tells us no team that finished the regular season 0-3 and got to the playoffs ever made it to the Super Bowl? Isn't that correct? It is. But it's only part of the story. Reality also tells us this: No New Orleans Saints team ever started the regular season 13-0. Of course, reality also tells us a team that went 16-0 in the regular season did not win the Super Bowl. Which brings us to the bottom line: More than anything, reality tells us every season brings us another definition of "reality." As for the 13-3 Who Dats, I don't care how the next several weeks unfold. I say New Orleans Coach Sean Payton did the right thing in giving quarterback Drew Brees, along with several other game-ready front-liners, a rest. The Saints won Sunday because they made every effort to go into the postseason perhaps healthier than they've been since October. Which is why I say finishing 0-3, after a 13-0 beginning, will not determine whether they get a shot to play for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It will come down to something else entirely, something that history has told us going back to the first X-and-O war. It will depend on Payton and Gregg Williams coming up with the kind of playoff game plans, on offense and defense, to handle the adjustments New Orleans opponents have made, adjustments the Saints have not taken advantage of down the stretch. At playoff time, "cold" teams have a way of becoming "hot" teams in the way they go after the enemy. Unlike recent seasons, when the Patriots were lord and masters, we're heading into a playoff with no team in either conference wearing the tag of solid favorite. The Saints will have a Superdome with wall-to-wall Who Dats cheering for them, but, as you watched performances against the Cowboys and Buccaneers, you realized an awesome decibel level can't do it all. In his first shot as a playoff coach in 2006, it wasn't Brees' passing (243 yards) as much as it was Deuce McAllister's running (143 yards) that carried the Saints to a 27-24 victory over the Eagles at the Superdome. A week later in Chicago, McAllister rushed for 18 yards, the Bears for 196, as Chicago won the infantry battle, and the game-plan war, on its way to the Super Bowl. While the Payton of '09 does not have a Deuce, he seems more wedded to a running game built around Pierre Thomas, someone you might say comes close to the rushing equivalent of Drew Brees. No one, and his bruised ribs, deserved a Sunday rest more than the Deuce of today. As the Saints prepare to start a sudden-death season, one loss and you're history, the crucial days will not be this week, but next week, once Payton and Williams begin to plot cerebral marching plans. On offense, the stat sheet tells us, the highest scoring team in the league has gone 17-17-10 in their last three outings. What do you do about that? On defense, once the Panthers traveled close to the length of the field for their final touchdown Sunday, we were reminded it was the fourth 90-yard touchdown drive allowed by the Saints this season. Is there an answer? The offense can't score touchdowns, and the defense allows too many big plays. That's reality. Listen to the pundits, on radio and TV, and they've got the answers. Listen to Saints safety Darren Sharper, a 13-year veteran of NFL combat, and he makes the most sense: "Whoever plays the best game is gonna win." Listen to Kurt Warner, the Cardinals quarterback, talk about resting your regulars or playing them to keep momentum going: "One way or another, you'll be second-guessed." Which reminded me what a football coach once told me: "You know what momentum is? Momentum is having a 21-0 lead.
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