16-0, here we come.

Brash? Maybe. Overly-optimistic? Maybe. Within-the-realm-of-possibilities? Absolutely.

The Saints haters out there have been saying all along that “this is a good team, not a great one”, that the “schedule has worked out well for the Saints”. I even read one pundit saying that this team was a “house of cards with a weak rushing defense that was living on borrowed time”. Another writer claimed the Saints would make the playoffs, but wouldn’t win a playoff game against the Vikes or Cowboys.

So what do I say? Hogwash. Anyone that has any football knowledge should cast aside any remaining skepticism about the Saints after their drubbing of the “mighty” Patriots this past Monday night. On a big stage, on a Monday night playoff intensity game against the “team of the 00’s” that many felt was very underrated our upstart Saints overwhelmed the Patriots and came close to embarrassing them. The 38-17 final was not a true indication of just how dominant the Saints were, or how outclassed the Patriots showed.
After the “uh-oh” moment when the Patriots took a 7-3 lead, it was all Saints. Our 21-3 run to end the half all but buried the Patriots, and in the second half the Saints just turned up the heat more. Brady may have allowed just two actual stat-producing sacks, but he was harassed all night long, as his two interceptions show. For the first time in memory, Tom Brady was playing scared, and he looked very, very human. The Saints defense, combined with all that offensive firepower puts undue pressure on opponents, and it makes them appear frantic.
I’ll be honest as well. I thought this would be a close, tight game. I was anticipating a 28-24 game, figuring whoever had the ball last would win. I favored the Saints since this was at home, but looking back now I realize the final wouldn’t have been much different if it had of been in Pats land. I also thought the Saints were a very good football team. I have actually thought they are a better balanced team than the Colts, and could beat the Colts on neutral ground. I wasn’t so sure how the Saints would stack up against a Vikings teams with Favre hot, or a Cowboys team on the weeks that Romo shows up. But now I think it’s impossible to point at any other NFL team and say they are in the Saints class.

That marquee matchup against the Cowboys on the 15th in the Superdome all the sudden don’t look that bad. Even if the Cowboys are playing well, the Saints are just frankly a better team.
Looking ahead on the schedule, it’s impossible to make a case for the Washington Deadskins to put up a fight, home or not. They put up a good fight in their 7-6 loss at Dallas, and again last week in the 24-27 loss at Philadelphia. But the key is…they lost. This is a team that has had it. They just lost to two division opponents, they are out of the playoffs, and they are looking at games against the Cowboys and Redskins later this year. No way can they muster up enough to put up a big fight against our offense. Even our defense at its worst can keep the Redskins and their 15.7 points per game offense in check. To add to their misery, no Clinton Portis or Ladell Betts to help QB Jason Campbell, and it’s going to be a long afternoon for the Skins’.
From there, the most dangerous game in my estimation will be against the Falcons in Atlanta. Those folks will be fired up, and have a real chip on their shoulder. But to me, this team is all mirrors. Yes, they are 6-5 and still in the playoff hunt. But there’s a real possibility they could be without phenom QB Matt Ryan, and Michael Turner is still banged up. Also, look at their five wins. Miami (Pre wildcat), Carolina, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington and Tampa Bay. Not exactly a murderer’s row of teams, and none that are sniffing the playoffs. They have lost to not only us (35-27), but to the Patriots, Cowboys, Panthers and Giants. They haven’t beaten anybody this year.
How about those Cowboys? I guess it all depends on if Tony Romo puts on his December helmet. His record in December is atrocious, and even this year he has been all over the map. That Boys’ “D” is tough though, and they will give Brees and Co. trouble. But the Saints offense can outscore the Cowboys. Game over.
Tampa? Please. One win all year, and we just drubbed them IN Tampa 38-7. I’d be surprised if they showed.
And even in Carolina, no way the Saints let down with a 15-0 record. The Panthers won’t have a shot in the last regular season game, even if we rest our players.

So that’s it. Only the Cowgirls and Dirty Birds stand in the way of an undefeated season, and more importantly, first round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs.

WHO-DAT!

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