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What Tom Brady and the New England Patriots did to the Saints Sunday is the same thing Drew Brees and the offense has done to Saints opponents many times in the Sean Payton era. Yet it is still gut wrenching to be on the losing end of a game-winning touchdown with just seconds to play. Especially when they had the game won, and considering how big of a statement it would have been to go up there and get a win at New England.
That being said, if I had to pick just one game for the Saints to lose this season, it would have been to the Patriots. The Saints' 5-0 start certainly seemed to bring back memories of how quickly they raced out of the gates to begin the 2009 Super Bowl season. Yet, even before the loss to the Patriots, I knew the chances of the Saints going 16-0 in the regular season then breezing through the playoffs en route to their second Lombardi Trophy was just wishful thinking. As I'm sure you all remember the Patriots themselves almost achieved that feat in 2007 going 19-0, before losing in dramatic fashion for the second time to the Eli Manning and the Giants.
That being said if I had to choose for the Saints to lose one game this year it would have been to the Patriots. Now chances are they will lose again this season, but I choose not to dwell on negative thoughts. The Saints face a pretty tough four week stretch in November going up against the Cowboys, 49ers, Falcons and Seahawks. I would much rather see the Saints correct what happened in Foxboro and beat these four teams, than have defeated the Patriots but lose to one these NFC foes. Not that I think upcoming games against the Bills and Jets should be taken for granted either.