Let's Take a Ride in the Way-Back Machine

Let's take the way-back machine to just 12 months ago. If I asked you what you would give me if I could promise you a 13-2 Saints record heading into the final game of the season, a guaranteed playoff spot, a first round bye, and possible homefield throughout, what would you do? Answer: you'd go directly to WebMD and start looking up which internal organs you could live without. So many fans live from week to week and either cannot or will not look at the big picture. I blame the media for this, as it's their job to keep stories interesting and keep people reading their columns and watching their programs on a weekly basis, so for them whatever happened this week is far more important than anything that came before. So when a team just keeps winning and winning it gets harder and harder for them to write eye-catching stories (there's only so many synonyms for "dominant" in the thesaurus) and a two game skid can easily be spun to look like a complete collapse. However, I have to blame the sad little fans for their own ignorance if they buy into the nonsense that the most recent performance defines what the team truly is above and beyond all else. The Giants were a sure-fire Superbowl contender after a 5-0 start. The Cowboys were December chokers and Wade Phillips was on his way out. The Eagles were mediocre. Denver was for real. Pittsburg was surely going to defend its title. The Chargers were done after 5 weeks, as was Greeen Bay. The Pats were going to be a powerhouse, then they were going to be crap, and now they're back to being more awesome than intercourse. Yeah, the wise ones at ESPN, NFL Network and all the others are infallible. Their opinions outweigh what I've seen with my own eyes for the past four months, let me tell you. Even the local NOLA media is turning on the Saints. I can't wait until all the circling buzzards suddenly and violently realize that the giant wasn't dead. It wasn't even asleep. It just tripped and fell briefly.

It's two losses, folks. Ugly losses, for sure, but two losses.Take a step back. Take a deep breath. Remember that team that dominated the first six games? We're getting healthy. That's the team we're heading into the playoffs with. Do you honeslty believe that anyone wants to face the Saints in the playoffs? Do you think opposing head coaches are praying at night to get that matchup because the Saints are "going to choke," or "have never been there before," or "have already peaked," or "can't win when it really matters?" Somehow, I doubt it. Do not get so wrapped up in that sick to your stomach feeling you got watching the Bucs game. Don't let the media tell you that the Saints have peaked. That they have big problems on offense and defense that can't possibly be fixed. Don't let fear of future disappointment make you forget all the joy you've felt watching this team all season. Don't focus on all the negativity as you try to steele yourself against what in past years has been an inevitable collapse. In short, keep the faith. Our coach is extremely smart, our QB is truly amazing, and we'll have a bye week to get healthy and prepared for our first playoff game. I for one, like our chances regardless of how next week plays out. Big picture, logic-driven thinking. Try it sometime. You may like it.

The Saints have played largely mistake-free football this year. Those mistakes have turned up these past few games and people are hitting the panic button with a quickness. The missed field goal was awful. The Colston fumble was inescusable. The run defense looked bad. But just because a team isn't perfect doesn't mean that it's a pile of wet garbage, my friends. I would prefer that mistakes happen now, when there's a chance to identify, address, and correct them as opposed to in the playoffs when you can't lose a game and live to fight another day.

The Saints were driving for the tying score at the end of the Cowboys game and you could see on the faces of the Dallas coaches that they were concerned. Even with the the offense stalling in the scond half, the Saints had the Bucs game won before a complete collapse on special teams (and a ref that should've been wearing a Bucs uniform on that punt return). Special teams, guys. Not offense. Not defense. Neither looked good in the second half, but two plays involving kickers lost that game. I don't expect the Saints to make a habit of going out like that. Do you?

If at all possible, can we as fans (as well as the media) stop saying things like "they didn't have the will to get it done" or "great teams find a way to win these games." You don't look under the bench and magically "find" a way to win. No one uses Jedi mind powers to throw a touchdown. No one says "Hey, I just realized we need to win this game, so I totally just caught my second wind with five minutes left to go to put our team over the top!" Please. Just stop. It's idiotic and stupid, and I'm not sure why so many people buy into the banal platitudes about willing yourself to victory or having the heart of a champion. These guys push themselves incredibly hard. I find it hard to believe that anyone would ever question their desire to win games. If there's ever a lack of effort, call it out. But I haven't seen it. Mistakes and lack of solid technique does not translate into a lack of effort or "will to win." Which team is it that has the guys with the physical and mental skills to play mistake-free every single play of every single game? Show me that team, please.  A complete breakdown of concentration or prolonged mental mistakes would be one thing, but I haven't seen that either. When we trade for Russel, Moss, or Marshall then you can start questioning work ethic. Until then, let up on the players after a loss, and stop using vague, fairytale phrases to bash your team because you think it sounds cool.

If anyone is too afraid to keep the faith after two losses, good riddance. Go to your message boards and talk about how concerned you are. Do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel better. Longtime Saints fans can see the big picture here. We are really, really good for the first time in a really, really long time. The first time ever, really. We are watching the best team in franchise history. And we are enjoying it.

I'm looking forward to the playoffs. I'm looking forward to watching this team work against the best of the best. I'm looking forward to winning. I'm looking forward. And I'm loving it.