Here's what writers from around the country are saying about the Saints today:
- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com:
Make no mistake, Drew Brees was clearly in harmony with his receivers, functioning like a human metronome. The recurrent pattern: Retreat, plant, throw, usually off three- or five-step drops, and with an accuracy that left the Atlanta secondary sorely overmatched. The New Orleans offense demonstrated great balance -- No. 3 tailback Aaron Stecker, the starter because of season-ending knee injuries to Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries -- but the passing game clearly was superior. It set up the run and certainly set the tone for the evening.
- Mike Triplett, Times Picayune:
The Saints have one real chance to get back into the playoff hunt in the final three weeks of this season. They need to keep playing the way they did in Monday night's 34-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
The Saints (6-7) did what they do best, overwhelming the Falcons (3-10) with a dazzling display of offense.
They lit up the stage in front of a nationally televised audience assuming, of course, that the nation tuned into this "showdown" between the underachieving NFC South rivals.
- Dom Bonvissuto, Sports Illustrated:
The Saints offense is better without Reggie Bush. Prior to Monday night, the Saints ranked 30th in the league in average rushing yards per carry with 3.5, with the primary ball carrier, Reggie Bush, averaging 3.7. With Bush out of the lineup with a PCL injury, the Saints averaged 4.8 a carry against the Falcons, led by Aaron Stecker's 20-carry, 100-yard performance. The New Orleans offense is obviously built around Drew Brees and the passing game, with the team averaging 40 pass attempts per game (most in the league) and only 24 rushing attempts (28th). Bush is reportedly done for the season, meaning the Saints will continue to utilize the explosive Stecker and his backup, Pierre Thomas. If that duo continues to give opposing defenses something to worry about, it will open things up even more for Brees -- as was evident on the Saints' two touchdown drives of 99 and 94 yards in the first half.