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CHICAGO — Of the many things Sean Payton preached to his players in the week heading into Sunday’s game in Chicago – the turnover battle, the field conditions, the weather – only one really hit home for those who have been with the team since 2006.

To do things you haven’t done before, you have to do them. You have to complete the task.

So in the moments after New Orleans’ 26-18 win over the Bears in Soldier Field when Payton says that the eight-point win meant only that “it was game five,” he’s outwardly ignoring the truth.

While Payton refused to show some positive emotions to the public after a win, his players generally pass along the message.

And Sunday, they told us it definitely meant something to Payton to win in Chicago. No question about it.

“It’s about that time,” said quarterback Drew Brees, one of six players to have lost all three times in Chicago with the Saints. “Man, we’ve come up here quite a few times, in some big games, and unfortunately we were never able to walk away with a victory. ’06, ’07, ’08, three consecutive years. We’ve been waiting for that opportunity to come back.”

Added right guard Jahri Evans, also a member since 2006, “For the guys who have lost here – being one game out from the Super Bowl in ’06, I think we lost one that could get us into the playoffs – the guys who went through that, I think it was special for the guys. Even the guys who didn’t, they knew we went through that and hadn’t been successful here and today we were. Coach emphasized. He said it.”

It’s a message Payton delivered to the 2009 team and that season ended with a first-ever Super Bowl.

Four seasons later, the message is still pertinent and it still resonates.

“You’ve got to get over those hurdles that you haven’t been able to overcome to get to where you want to be,” safety Malcolm Jenkins said this week. “This is the next hurdle.”

Read more: Saints listen to Payton, do something special in Chicago | wwltv.com New Orleans

Belair57

I knew we would be ready today..just had an ass kickn gut feeling. and it felt good rubbing it in to my bears fan friend till he hung up on me...Im on cloud nine right now

WHODATINCA

Jay Cutler was on his back so much, I thought he'd decided to take a nap.

Saintswrath

Either that or he was trying to get pregnant.

homerj07

Good read. Thanks.

RailBoss

Playing Chicago early in the season where the field isn't a frozen Tundra helps us a bit.

TheOak

Being a better all around team and showing up on game day helps a lot more.

QBREES9

Our D looks great !

Rugby Saint II

They better listen now that daddys back.