Top Ten Plays of the 2009 New Orleans Saints Season: What's your take?
by Ace Venom on Feb 9, 2010 9:32 AM CST
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While this has obviously been the most successful season in New Orleans Saints history, many of us have different views about the great moments in that season. We remember starting 13-0, the Monday Night Football game against the New England Patriots and the ultimate victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. But if you had to narrow down the greatest plays of the entire season to only ten, what would they be? Here are mine.
10) Drew Brees Does It All. We’ve seen enough examples of Brees slicing through opposing defenses through the air and it’s hard to believe that Brees could have done anything more to build his legend. What he did in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins at Landshark Stadium (now Sun Life Stadium) built on that legend. With the first half coming to a close, the Saints were trailing 24-3. Rather than playing it safe and kicking a field goal, the Saints went for the touchdown. Drew Brees took the ball in himself to cap off the drive. The Saints would eventually win 46-34 and improve to 7-0.
9) Darren Sharper Goes the Distance. With the season still young and the Saints playing at home against the 3-0 New York Jets, the Saints clung to a 3-0 lead as the Jets were driving towards the end zone. However, the Jets failed to capitalize in epic fashion. Darren Sharper intercepted a pass from Mark Sanchez that he returned 99 yards for a touchdown. The Saints would defeat the Jets 24-10 and improve to 4-0.
8) Hargrove the Panther Slayer. The 2009 season was a season of firsts for the New Orleans Saints. One of those firsts was dealing former Saints quarterback Jake Delhomme his first loss in the Louisiana Superdome. With the Saints clinging to a three point lead, Anthony Hargrove sealed the deal by forcing DeAngelo Williams to fumble, which he recovered for a 1-yard touchdown. The Saints won 30-20 and improved to 8-0.
7) Brees Connects to Henderson. If the Saints emerge as a dynasty, perhaps the Monday Night Football game on November 30, 2009 could be seen as a symbolic passing of the torch from New England to New Orleans. Drew Brees had the best game of his career, posting a perfect passer rating. No pass in that game was more memorable than the one he made to Devery Henderson in the second quarter. With a 10-7 lead, Brees connected with a wide open Henderson for a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive. The Saints won 38-17 and improved to 11-0.
6) The Miracle in Landover. Coming off the impressive Monday night victory against the New England Patriots, the Saints played the Washington Redskins at Fed Ex Field. The Saints were down 10-7 in the second quarter and the Saints needed to score. Drew Brees attempted a pass to Jeremy Shockey that was intercepted by Kareem Moore. What started in disaster transformed into a play that will be in highlight reels for years. Robert Meachem stripped the football from Moore and returned it for a 44-yard touchdown. The Saints would eventually win in overtime 33-30.
5) Reggie Brings the Wood. While Reggie Bush impressed with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs, that same game featured an even more impressive play from Bush. Bush extended the Saints lead to 21-7 by executing a 54-yard touchdown run and anyone who watched the play saw the second overall pick could argue that it was one of the best runs of his career.
4) Ambush. The Super Bowl is a stage where legends are made and the history of the contest is filled with dramatic plays as well as moments that will live in infamy. The start of the second half of Super Bowl XLIV was one moment where infamy and legend crossed paths. With the Indianapolis Colts due to receive the ball to start the second half and the Saints trailing 10-6, head coach Sean Payton planned to use the onside kick during halftime. In a gamble that would make Les Miles jealous, Payton’s plan resulted in the Saints recovering the onside kick. It was a massive momentum shift that led to the Saints’ first lead of Super Bowl XLIV.
3) Porter Intercepts Favre. With the game tied 28-28 in the NFC Championship Game, Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings were making an impressive drive down the field. After being penalized for too many men in the huddle, Brett Favre was put in a situation where he would have to pass the ball to make a field goal attempt more manageable. In a day that will go down in infamy for Vikings fans, Favre threw across his body only to be intercepted by Tracy Porter. It would be the final Minnesota possession of the game.
2) The Kick Heard Around the World. The chain of events that unfolded after Tracy Porter’s interception sent the NFC Championship Game into overtime. The Saints won the toss and drove down the field in a series of dramatic plays, setting up a 40-yard field goal attempt for Garrett Hartley. He booted the kick straight through the uprights. Hell had frozen and pigs had flown. The Saints were going to the Super Bowl.
1) Porter Strikes Again. While Minnesota fans will never forget Tracy Porter’s interception near the end of regulation in the NFC Championship Game, Indianapolis fans won’t soon forget another Porter moment. The Saints led 24-17 with about three and a half minutes left in regulation in Super Bowl XLIV. Peyton Manning was putting together a potential game-tying drive with hopes of sending the game into overtime. Tracy Porter dashed those dreams in dramatic fashion. Manning attempted a pass to Reggie Wayne, but Porter jumped the route and intercepted the pass. He returned the ball 74 yards for a touchdown, icing Peyton Manning’s comeback attempt.
This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.
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The Robert Meachum strip of the interception and run back for a td
by mississippisaintsfan on Feb 9, 2010 9:44 AM CST reply actions
1) porter sb pick 6
2) hartley’s ot fg to get to the sb
3) reggie’s run against the cards
4) meachem’s strip
"I want to hand this trophy to the MVP of the Super Bowl -- and the MVP of the entire league, Drew Brees.''
-- Sean Payton
I believe the Porter interception of farve is #1 that was a much tougher game and we were damn near eliminated with out it
- Hartley kick
- Porters pick six in super bowl
- Onside kick in superbowl
by mississippisaintsfan on Feb 9, 2010 9:48 AM CST reply actions
I'm still hung over lets edit this
- Porter pick on favre
- Hartley kick
- Porter pick6
- onside kick
ha i finally got it right
by mississippisaintsfan on Feb 9, 2010 9:50 AM CST up reply actions
Guys, c'mon
“Ambush” is the greatest play in Saints history. I know it wasn’t much to look at—just a squib kick and a big dogpile—but it was a steel-toed kick to the teeth of the Indianapolis Colts. Porter’s INTs were beautiful, and important, and I don’t want to take anything away from either…except for the #1 spot. They were nails in the coffin. “Ambush” was the coffin itself.
"We’re running Ambush."
It was hard for me to figure out where to rank Ambush in the grand scheme of things
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
i don't know...
obviously ambush was awesome and a momentum swing, but indy still came back to tie the lead and were driving to potentially tie when porter’s pick made it a 2 td game – i gotta say the pick 6
"I want to hand this trophy to the MVP of the Super Bowl -- and the MVP of the entire league, Drew Brees.''
-- Sean Payton
by DeuceisLoose926 on Feb 9, 2010 11:00 AM CST up reply actions
10) Sack-strip of Sanchez in the endzone vs. Jets. The first time I believed our defense could win a game on it’s own
9) McKenzie defensed pass to Moss on 4th down vs. Patriots. Lots of good “screw you, dynasty!” moments in this one, but that straight-up denial of points really made me happy. No luck, no trickery, just solid defense.
8) The entire Miami game: Brees’ two qb sneaks, with goalpost dunk, Mike Bell’s brutal, head-first running, Shockey 45 yard catch-and-run while stiffarming defender, two defensive TD’s. Beautiful game.
7) Pierre Thomas in the second half at Buffalo. Over a hundred yards, 2 TD’s in one half, coming off a saline drip in the locker room. Suck it, H1N1!
6) Hargrove strip-recovery in endzone of DeAngelo Williams to ice the Panthers. His failed attempt to jump the wall made it all the better.
5) Brees’ six-touchdown home opener vs. Detroit. Just a nod to Brees, through whom all things are possible. Great way to start a season.
4) Meachem’s strip-recovery-TD vs. Washington. If not for the Super Bowl run, it would be a top 3 All-Time Saints play. Just an artful piece of sportsmanship.
3) Reggie “bringin’ the wood” vs. Arizona. I knew we were keeping him active for a reason. An inspired game by all Saints, but Reggie really earned some money in that one.
2) Porter’s game-saving pick of Favre in the final moments of regulation. That silly-lookin’ punk with the pac-man haircut bought our ticket to the Super Bowl.
1) “Ambush”. I had to shield my eyes from the blinding glare of Payton’s huge brass balls.
"The Colts were punching at it and grabbing for it, trying to get it out. But I didn't care if they broke all my fingers. There was absolutely no way in the world I was going to let go of that ball. That was our ball.''-Chris Reis
#1 greatest play of all time
Drew Brees kneels on the ball to run out the clock to win SUPERBOWL XLIV. I’ll always cherish the moment. SAINTS WIN SAINTS WIN.
I'll be your huckleberry- Doc Holliday to Ringo
by KilnBill on Feb 9, 2010 11:22 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
I thought it was classy of the Cots to conceed defeat. They could have called time-out and been pains in the butt, but they didn't
Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints HAVE WON the Superbowl!!
So many great plays!
1. Robert Meachem’s strip from Kareem Moore returned for TD!
2. Darren Sharper interception returned for TD during Miami game. It looked magical!
3. Reggie Bush’s Airplane leap in the endzone during miami game!
4. Hargrove strip fumble returned for TD Carolina game.
5. Brees’s 75 yard TD to Devery in New England. Brees 5td perfect game torching the Patriots.
6. Reggie’s 50 yard TD run and 83 yard punt return for TD during Cards game.
7. Sharper’s 99 td return for TD against philly.
8. Hartley’s perfect overtime winning kick that sent us to the Superbowl!
9. Porter’s pick on favre that sent us to overtime for victory against minnesota.
10. Porter’s pick 6 against manning/colts that sealed the superbowl victory! Priceless!
Most memorable moments in superbowl.
Drew Brees and Sean Payton holding the lombardi trophy!
Drew Brees holding his baby while shedding tears of joy!
A very peaceful emotional moment.
Suprised you are the first to mention Reggie's 6 yard dive for the corner in Miami
At the time that was probably the NFL’s play of the year in my opinion. Oh how much we have added since then.
"I want to hand this trophy to the MVP of the Super Bowl -- and the MVP of the entire league.''
-- Saints coach Sean Payton, handing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Drew Brees after Super Bowl 44.
Meachum's Strip for me has to be higher
I think only ambush goes above it but great list. It is such a treat just remembering it all. Oh! and Belichek throwing in the towel although not a saint play is extremely high on my list of highlights.
I would have said Meachem strip before Sunday....
…but is gotta be Ambush…. greatest Saints play ever… period
Bring the wood
Can't argue with the list
Though ‘Ambush,’ I’ll agree, should be fighting for that #1 spot.
All of those plays defined the Saints and their playing attitude.
"I definitely believe in destiny, and I believe in karma and what goes around comes around. We have been on the other side of this deal probably too many times. Maybe it's our time that we start catching some of the breaks, and start being the team that wins them like this in the end." -- Drew Brees
all are great momnets....
The only one i have trouble with is the 75 yarder to Henderson against the Pats. For me in that game three things stand out…BREES, Mckenzie (4th down), and the 33 yarder Henderson caught to open the game. That set the tone for the rest of the game and the season. it was proof that we were not scared of anybody or anything. That 75 yarder was icing on the cake.
My own choice for Top 10 Saints plays of 2009-2010:
1) Tracy Porter’s Pick-6 that clinched the Super Bowl. Enough said.
2) Tracy Porter’s INT against Farve late in the NFC Championship. Dodged a nuke, and allowed for….
3) Garrett Hartley’s NFC Championship winning field goal in OT. Can’t get any more perfect than that kick.
4) Drew Brees’ QB sneak into the end zone against Miami. Remember, the Saints were down 24-3, I believe at that point, and Drew had to convince Sean Payton to eschew the FG and go for it. He established his leadership of the team with that brassy move.
5) “Ambush” (the onsides kick to begin the second half of SB XLIV). Pure. Brass.
7) Will Smith’s INT and Bobby McCray’s simultaneous knockout of Curt Warner in the Arizona game/NFC Divisional playoff.
8) Darren Sharper’s coast-to-coast Pick 6 against the Jets. Message delivered; this isn’t last year’s defense.
9) Reggie Bush’s first touchdown run against Arizona. He ran with a purpose all game long, but that move he made to get free on that particular play was absolutely SICK.
10) Robert Meachem’ strip and rip against Washington. It may not have ultimately decided the game (the gacked FG by the Redskins leading to Meachem’s game-tying TD did), but it showed the hustle.
Anthony
Gotta be Ambush
Ambush told the Colts, "We ’Ain’t Skeer’d’ ". Sean told the Colts, “Here we come, just try and stop us.”
I still can’t believe it. I was just coming back to the couch from visiting with my Superbowl Party guests (there was plenty of time for socializing during half-time, none while the game was going on!) and I missed the kick portion of it but saw it veering short and remarked (if you can call shouting a remark) to my wife "They kicked it short! Onsides kick! We got it!
When TP picked it and was running to the house, my wife and I looked at each other like “I can’t belive it! We are actually going to WIN the Superbowl!” I knew we were going to do it, but the realization was that it was happening, was surreal.
So my vote is Ambush #1 TP pick-6 vs colts #2.
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