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Who Dat Fans: It’s Only Week Two
Published: September 25, 2009
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Not to rain on everyone’s parade here but for all of those claiming the Saints are going to the promised land this season, relax, it’s only week two. While all the national media is drooling over Drew Brees’ absolutely ridiculous numbers and the Saints 2-0 start, most people have been starting to drown out the last 10 years.
Have the past 40 years not meant anything to every who dat fan? How many times have the Saints looked promising in these past 10 years only to falter in the end?
I believe former Saints Coach Jim Mora said it best, “Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs!” Though he was sporting a colts emblem and not a fleur de lis that day, he still remains a part of this franchise.
Maybe Jim Haslett, coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2000-2005, can refresh your minds about how this franchise really works. In 2002, the Saints started the season 3-0.
The offense was scoring at will with their gun slinging quarterback Aaron Brooks and his WR combo of Joe Horn and Donte Stallworth. Coming off a week 14 win at Baltimore, the team was 9-4 as fans were already trying to buy playoff tickets.
Then the Minnesota Vikings come to town with nothing to lose and the “same ole saints” came out to play. In the final possession of the game, Minnesota scores a late touchdown and decides to go for the win instead of forcing overtime.
Daunte Culpepper, the quarterback of the Vikings that day, fumbled the snap yet still had enough time to pick the ball up and run it in for the win. The rest is history as the saints went on to lose the next two games including a 10-6 “shootout” with the lowly Carolina panthers in the regular season finale. The 2002 saints finished 9-7 with no playoff appearance.
I know the 2002 and 2009 saints are light years apart, but the fact remains, this franchise will always be embraced by this city as the NFL version of the Chicago Cubs, “loveable losers.”
Some things change, such as the QB or the coach, but others remain, such as the gut wrenching feeling when the playoffs are on, what seems to be, every channel, with no saints sighting.
Do not interpret this article as a warning sign to abandon ship right away, it is merely a reminder that everyone remain cautious.
A 2-0 record doesn’t put you in the playoffs. The Saints must continue to improve in all facets of the game especially on defense and special teams.
It’s easy to point to the defensive struggles against the pass but everyone needs to realize that most teams will be playing catch-up thanks to Drew Brees and his high-flying offense.
We also have no idea how the saints will do in a closely contested battle. The 2008 Saints lost six games by five or less.
The 2009 Saints must prove that this year they mean business. With upcoming games against both New York teams, the Saints must beat the teams they already placed a W next to (aka Detroit and Buffalo). Then they must prove to the rest of the league that they are for real with at least one victory against the Jets or Giants.
So before you book that plane ticket to Miami, watch the next 10 or so games, after all, it’s only week two.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
