Incredibly bad as #9 - PLEASE!

Atlanta was the first deep south team in the NFL New Orleans a close second. Both cities had to go through similar "concessions" to land a team, yet there has never been any "love" between the two neighbors - they are as different as the two sides of a coin. Both are two sides of the coin that is Dixie. Atlanta, struggles to be a corporate Yankee wannabe shedding all culture and identity to be the worst mess of suburban sprawl to ever sit atop a slab of concrete.

New Orleans has maintained her beauty style and culture. She is everything that Atlanta is not. The two battle for the sould of the deep south. It is a cultural as well as football rivalry.

When we played each other in our first season it WAS a big deal. The Dixie Bowl. It was HUGE and has been ever since. The two deep south teams - playing in New Orleans - we won - and the rivalry has been as tough as ANY in the NFL. I would say more so - but I am biased.

At the time it did not get the national attention because the deep south was such a small market. I suspect the neglect of this all important rivalry is based on the residual effects of that fact.

It seems to me that the national media did not pay attention to these two perpetual losers until the Gleason blocked punt. Even then they acted like it was a recent phenomenon.

We were (Finally) placed in the same division at the merger where we have been ever since. it has almost always been an incredible game regardless of who is favored - or what the record of either team is.

I have seen them play many times in both stadiums - as well as the old Atlanta Fulton Co Stadium. Any one who has ever seen the two play in any stadium can feel the fan rivalry. Placing the Rivalry at number 9 is absurd and yet another shining example of the lack of respect the Saints get.