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Saints News, 10/1/13: Saints Crush Dolphins, Move to 4-0 With Commanding NFC South Lead

The Saints couldn't have finished the first quarter of the season better. They are undefeated and the other three NFC South teams have fallen far behind. The passing game is running like a supercharged Corvette and the defense is acting like an immovable bulldozer in a narrow alleyway. All that remains is to fix the offensive line play and get the running game on track. If they are able to improve O-line blocking and pass protection, this Saints team will be terrifying to opposing teams throughout the remainder of the season.

Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Spor

Tweets

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>U know what feels better den 4-0? 5-0 gotta put In Da work 2 have a shot of dominating each week oh and GOD IS GOOD!</p>&mdash; NuLa C.E.O. (@JuniorG93) <a href="https://twitter.com/JuniorG93/statuses/385049145808928768">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Woke up with a smile.&#10;#4-0 will do that to ya.&#10;&#10;<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WhoDat&amp;src=hash">#WhoDat</a></p>&mdash; Jedidiah Collins (@JedCollins45) <a href="https://twitter.com/JedCollins45/statuses/385039086265696256">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23owned&amp;src=hash">#owned</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23riseup&amp;src=hash">#riseup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sitdown&amp;src=hash">#sitdown</a> RT <a href="https://twitter.com/BnGreview">@BnGreview</a>: Saints are now 11-2 on Monday Night since 2006. Falcons are 1-6 (5 of those losses to the Saints).</p>&mdash; Grandmaster Wang (@moosedenied) <a href="https://twitter.com/moosedenied/statuses/385033985836859393">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Congrats to the 4-0 <a href="https://twitter.com/Saints">@Saints</a> ! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WhoDat&amp;src=hash">#WhoDat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WhoDatNation&amp;src=hash">#WhoDatNation</a></p>&mdash; Scott Shanle (@scottshanle) <a href="https://twitter.com/scottshanle/statuses/385030688556056577">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Check out Mrs. Watson on <a href="https://twitter.com/wdsu">@wdsu</a>! Saints&#39; wives have club of their own | Sports - Home <a href="http://t.co/2X4c4tONTP">http://t.co/2X4c4tONTP</a></p>&mdash; Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenjaminSWatson/statuses/385022631453290496">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Who Dat Nation showed up, and showed out last night! With that kinda support, we had no choice but to put on for our city! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23teamwin&amp;src=hash">#teamwin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WhoDat&amp;src=hash">#WhoDat</a></p>&mdash; David Hawthorne (@D_Hawthorne57) <a href="https://twitter.com/D_Hawthorne57/statuses/385015742292590592">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jus a fat kid waitin for mornin to break so I can eat!!! Had a nice entree on mnf, sacked a dolphin, but never got full o well always hungry</p>&mdash; cameron jordan (@camjordan94) <a href="https://twitter.com/camjordan94/statuses/384965064974815232">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I&#39;m 24 and half the time I say 23? N I don&#39;t know why too used to bein young smh I&#39;m older and gotta realize it</p>&mdash; cameron jordan (@camjordan94) <a href="https://twitter.com/camjordan94/statuses/384966238675300352">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>So the other day me n my teammate thomasmorstead hangin at coach Payton&#39;s Play It Forwatd charity gala… <a href="http://t.co/0PCca4FQkf">http://t.co/0PCca4FQkf</a></p>&mdash; cameron jordan (@camjordan94) <a href="https://twitter.com/camjordan94/statuses/384944954348683264">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>PHOTOS: Saints vs Dolphins <a href="http://t.co/6JQNalZ3mK">http://t.co/6JQNalZ3mK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MIAvsNO&amp;src=hash">#MIAvsNO</a></p>&mdash; New Orleans Saints (@Saints) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saints/statuses/384942602656571392">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>That <a href="https://twitter.com/Saints">@Saints</a> win got me really excited for training camp tomorrow !! Want to have the arena and fans like that !! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Pelicans&amp;src=hash">#Pelicans</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Nola&amp;src=hash">#Nola</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Work&amp;src=hash">#Work</a></p>&mdash; Lance Thomas (@slangmagic) <a href="https://twitter.com/slangmagic/statuses/384901691952594944">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Blessed to get another win and to score my 1st TD as a New Orleans Saint! <a href="http://t.co/LoqI8QGHxs">http://t.co/LoqI8QGHxs</a></p>&mdash; Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenjaminSWatson/statuses/384931934566383616">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>4-0! We are getting better as a team! Loved the energy in the dome tonight, let&#39;s keep it rolling! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23whodat&amp;src=hash">#whodat</a></p>&mdash; Curtis Lofton (@CurtisLofton50) <a href="https://twitter.com/CurtisLofton50/statuses/384928293218033664">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Blessed Beyond Belief! 4-0</p>&mdash; Jimmy Graham (@TheJimmyGraham) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJimmyGraham/statuses/384926665526087680">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>As a team we are perfect 4-0, it was a great team win tonight, however I know I need to step up my performance 80% isn&#39;t good enough, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23iwill&amp;src=hash">#iwill</a></p>&mdash; Garrett Hartley (@GHartley5) <a href="https://twitter.com/GHartley5/statuses/384918859859234816">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It was so LOUD tonight</p>&mdash; Thomas Morstead (@thomasmorstead) <a href="https://twitter.com/thomasmorstead/statuses/384916060622684160">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Great win tonight, Who Dat Nation! Let’s keep it rollin baby!</p>&mdash; Drew Brees (@drewbrees) <a href="https://twitter.com/drewbrees/statuses/384912869617184768">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>24 hr rule in effect another great win still so many opportunities to get better we have to get better every game</p>&mdash; cameron jordan (@camjordan94) <a href="https://twitter.com/camjordan94/statuses/384912760154251265">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Can&#39;t beat a team win. Enjoy it for the next 12 hrs then it&#39;s on to the next</p>&mdash; deuce mcallister (@dmcallister26) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmcallister26/statuses/384911200565198848">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Felt great to be back out there!!! Felt even better to win in front of the best fans in the world!! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23whodat&amp;src=hash">#whodat</a>!!</p>&mdash; Isa Abdul-Quddus (@iamisa1) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamisa1/statuses/384907156824129537">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I tell you what doe that boi jimmy is a nightmare for defenses whew!!!</p>&mdash; rafael bush (@rbush36) <a href="https://twitter.com/rbush36/statuses/384907464195317760">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Never seen a team talk so much trash while down 3 scores SMH Live on DA edge play on DA edge never hurt DA team! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BLESSED&amp;src=hash">#BLESSED</a></p>&mdash; NuLa C.E.O. (@JuniorG93) <a href="https://twitter.com/JuniorG93/statuses/384903552973303808">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Great team win and the defense caused 4 turnovers 4-0</p>&mdash; rafael bush (@rbush36) <a href="https://twitter.com/rbush36/statuses/384903288132366337">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Great team win! Offense, defense, special teams, crowd noise! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WhoDat&amp;src=hash">#WhoDat</a></p>&mdash; Will Herring (@wherring54) <a href="https://twitter.com/wherring54/statuses/384892720273047552">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Tonight&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GrudenGrinder&amp;src=hash">#GrudenGrinder</a> is Darren Sproles for his superior speed and yards after contact! --&gt; <a href="http://t.co/RYqhnS6xNN">pic.twitter.com/RYqhnS6xNN</a></p>&mdash; ESPN Monday Night (@ESPNMondayNight) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNMondayNight/statuses/384888575247921153">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Who Dat!</p>&mdash; Will Smith (@iWillSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/iWillSmith/statuses/384888667539779584">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Idk how this ball didn&#39;t come out but O Well....<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BODYBAG&amp;src=hash">#BODYBAG</a> <a href="http://t.co/Nmo0boNEod">http://t.co/Nmo0boNEod</a></p>&mdash; NuLa C.E.O. (@JuniorG93) <a href="https://twitter.com/JuniorG93/statuses/385055252736913408">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>4-0 <a href="http://t.co/bKWaWHM2Rq">pic.twitter.com/bKWaWHM2Rq</a></p>&mdash; New Orleans Saints (@Saints) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saints/statuses/384918429418786816">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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Saints Defeat Dolphins 38-17

Saints point to return of "genius" coach for 4-0 start | ProFootballTalk
"He’s our lead man," Brees explained, via Ashley Fox of ESPN.com. "I tell you what, from the moment he stepped back in the facility in April, he’s been locked in. He’s never let an opportunity go by without communicating a message. He has not let anything go unsaid. Maybe that’s the perspective coming off last year. Maybe it’s just feeling like he hasn’t been around, so he wants to make sure everything is communicated, especially to a lot of these young players, about our program and what we do on a daily basis, our work ethic, building a foundation, the history.

Payton's return turns Saints from 0-4 to 4-0 | wwltv.com New Orleans
The story of Sean Payton’s return to the sideline has certainly been discussed ad nauseam as September bleeds into October.

Quick Takes: Saints 'pass' Dolphins test with relative ease
The 2013 New Orleans Saints are beginning to resemble the 2009 New Orleans Saints with a quarterback playing lights out for the last two weeks and a defense forcing a bushel of turnovers while generating a pass rush.

FILET OF FINS | New Orleans Saints | The Sun Herald
NEW ORLEANS -- Drew Brees reminded a national audience why he's becoming Mr. Monday Night, and gave the Miami Dolphins another reason to regret not making a harder push to sign him when they had the chance seven years ago.

New Orleans Saints defense earning the hype | New Orleans Saints | The Sun Herald
NEW ORLEANS -- This Saints defense is no early-season fluke.

New Orleans Saints go from 0-4 to 4-0 with an exclamation point | NOLA.com
Despite their flaws, New Orleans keeps winning

New Orleans Saints vs. Miami Dolphins: grades | NOLA.com
How they fared.

Game balls for the New Orleans Saints' 38-17 win over the Miami Dolphins | NOLA.com
Darren Sproles exploits a weakness in the Miami defensive scheme

Mike Wallace made a few plays but Keenan Lewis and the New Orleans Saints came out with the win | NOLA.com
New Orleans Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis and Miami Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace have been best friends since they were 5, but they were adversaries for the first time Monday night.

Drew Brees moves up in the record books after 413-yard performance
Brees moves up in NFL record book Monday night

New Orleans Saints vs Miami Dolphins: Notebook
The Saints are 4-0 for the fourth time in franchise history

Recapping the New Orleans Saints' 38-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins
Taking a look at all of our coverage from Monday night

John DeShazier: New Orleans Saints deliver another Monday night knockout
Saints roll past Miami Dolphins 38-17 to stay unbeaten

Dolphins at Saints: Thumbs up, Thumbs down | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
THUMBS UP Drew Brees It’s easy to take for granted just how good the guy is, because he does it every week. But Brees, like he had done ti…

Darren Sproles’ versatility too much for Miami Dolphins | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
Simply put, the Miami Dolphins had no answer for New Orleans Saints scatback Darren Sproles in Monday night’s game at the Mercedes-Benz Sup…

Saints receive little resistance from Dolphins | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
New Orleans Saints fans packing the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Monday night began singing, "Hey, hey, hey, goodbye," to the Miami Dolphins …

Rabalais: Trying to shut down Saints? Good luck | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
The federal government tumbled over the brink of a shutdown Monday night. The New Orleans Saints’ unbeaten streak? There’s no off switch on…

Saints defense gets the job done against the Miami Dolphins | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
Isn’t it nice that the Saints offense is finally catching up with the defense? There’s a sentence most folks probably thought they wouldn’…

Saints notebook: Drew Brees moves up to 6th in career passing | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
With his third completion in Monday night’s 38-17 win against the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees moved into sixt…

The Best Moments From Dolphins-Saints MNF | Kissing Suzy Kolber
There was a quarter and a half of contested football before the deluge of Miami turnovers kept the Dolphins from keeping up with the onslaught of Darren Sproles and Jimmy Graham. Were the Dolphins exposed as clownfrauds? Did the Saints merely capitalize from a very advantageous home environment?

Saints’ Junior Galette: Dolphins aren’t as good as everyone said | ProFootballTalk
In a Monday night battle of teams that entered the game 3-0, the Saints looked like Super Bowl contenders, while the Dolphins did not. After the game, one Saints player said the Dolphins were never as good as that 3-0 record suggested.

Sean Payton is the difference between 7-9 and a Super Bowl | For The Win
Is Payton the difference? Good luck arguing otherwise.

Laces Out – NFL on FOX Blog
What we know after the Saints' win over Dolphins

Week Four Power Rankings | ProFootballTalk
3. Saints (4-0; No. 4): Ditto for the Saints, even though they didn’t play on the road this week.

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The View from the Other Side

Three Observations From Monday Night's Loss
John Congemi breaks down his three observations from Monday night's loss in New Orleans.

New Orleans Saints dominate Miami Dolphins; Peter King mailbag | The MMQB with Peter King
"Yeah, everything’s the same but the run game, which we’ve got to fix,’’ said guard Jahri Evans in a composed locker room late Monday night. "If you’re talking about being 4-0, and slinging the ball around like Drew does, and our defense taking the ball away, it’s amazingly similar.’’

Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints: Who won the key matchups? - Miami Dolphins - MiamiHerald.com
Winner: Saints.

NEW ORLEANS: Darren Sproles plays big in Saints’ victory - Miami Dolphins - MiamiHerald.com
New Orleans running back Darren Sproles caught seven passes for 114 yards and a TD and rushed for a score, too.

NEW ORLEANS: Saints offense halts Dolphins run game - Miami Dolphins - MiamiHerald.com
Miami’s ground assault got off to a good start until the Saints put points up on the board in bunches, forcing the Dolphins to throw.

NEW ORLEANS: Armando Salguero: Dolphins far from being elite - Armando Salguero - MiamiHerald.com
Late in the second quarter of this nationally televised show, future franchise quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted, setting up present day franchise quarterback Drew Brees for an eventual touchdown pass.

Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints: Quarter by quarter - Miami Dolphins - MiamiHerald.com
Impact player: New Orleans running back Darren Sproles caught four passes for 68 yards and scored the game’s first touchdown on his 5-yard draw up the middle.

Dolphins can't overcome Drew Brees, four turnovers - Football Wires - MiamiHerald.com
NEW ORLEANS - The Miami Dolphins defense made Darren Sproles look like an MVP candidate. The Dolphins receivers had trouble simply catching the ball - when they weren't running into each other.

In Case You Missed It: Saints 38, Dolphins 17 " The Finsiders – Miami Dolphins

Andy Cohen: Breaking Down A Monday Night Loss " The Finsiders – Miami Dolphins

Quotes from Miami Dolphins Coach Joe Philbin and players following 38-17 loss to Saints

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Video

VIDEO Sean Payton: "we played with a lot of energy"
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton speaks with reporters after the New Orleans Saints game vs the Miami Dolphins on Monday, September 30, 2013. (New Orleans Saints video)

VIDEO Drew Brees: "proud of our guys"
New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees speaks with reporters after the team's 38-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday, September 30, 2013. (New Orleans Saints video)

VIDEO Jimmy Graham: "Drew Brees is a special QB"
New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham speaks with reporters after the New Orleans Saints' 38-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday, September 30, 2013. (New Orleans Saints video)

VIDEO New Orleans Saints vs Miami Dolphins Highlights
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees throws for over 400 yards and four touchdowns, while running back Darren Sproles and tight end Jimmy Graham both find the end zone twice in a 38-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.

VIDEO New Orleans Saints Game Wrap: September 30
New Orleans Saints senior writer John DeShazier and Sean Kelley recap the New Orleans Saints 38-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday, September 30, 2013. (New Orleans Saints video)