Unbeaten Saints Seem Parity-Proof

Posted Oct 25, 2009 9:30PM By Dave Goldberg (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Saints

This piece was supposed to be about parity. About two of the NFL's four remaining unbeaten teams losing and about why New England's 16-0 2007 regular season was so remarkable.

In other words, about why no one will match that soon. Or ever.

That's still probably true. But the Saints are making a lot of believers after falling behind 24-3 Sunday, then outscoring Miami 43-10 in the last 30 minutes and two seconds to win 46-34. How many interceptions does Darren Sharper, who will turn 34 in nine days, have to return for touchdowns before we'll starting wondering if New Orleans can emulate the Patriots?

The Saints probably can't. What probably will happen is what happened to Minnesota in Pittsburgh on Sunday, when the Steelers handed the Vikings their first loss with some good bounces and a bad game-turning "tripping'' call that everyone but the folks in Ron Winter's crew seemed to think was terrible.

In other words, play the Super Bowl winners on the road, get some bad bounces and bad calls and a game is gone. After all, the Vikings' win over the 49ers came on a last-play semi-"Hail Mary'' to Greg Lewis, a receiver who had just been picked up off the street.

This was a trap game for New Orleans.

They had played their "game of the century'' last week, spending their bye week preparing for their battle of unbeatens with the Giants at the Superdome, then taking apart New York's injury-depleted secondary 48-27. Sharper had an interception return for a TD in that one, too -- it just didn't count because there was a late hit on Eli Manning on the play.

This one looked over when the Dolphins led 24-3 late in the first half. They looked like they might score again when Davone Bess lost a fumble at his own 47 with 1:43 left. Replay reversed a Marques Colston TD and then the Dolphins called time out, leading Sean Payton to decide to go for a TD from the 1-yard line instead of kicking a field goal.

Drew Brees went in for the score to make it 24-10.

Game over. You knew the Saints, the better team, would win it after that.

Sharper's deflected interception return, the 11th interception return TD of his 13-year career, to start the second half made it 24-17 -- the scores were exactly 1:04 apart. The "rout'' was on.

But let's delve into the main question: can anyone finish this season unbeaten?

The three teams without a loss now are the Saints, Colts and Broncos. And the answer should be no. Because what happened to the Vikings in Pittsburgh on Sunday should happen to all of them -- bounces, calls, what have you, like a bad game equal to New Orleans' bad first half. Even in 2007, the Patriots spent the first ten games blowing people out and the last six narrowly escaping defeat three times.

Before, of course, losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl.

The Saints have one advantage.

Like their game against the Giants, the toughest teams left on their schedule come to New Orleans: Atlanta a week from Monday; New England on Nov. 30, and Dallas on Dec. 19. Their toughest road game will be at the Falcons on Dec. 13, and if they're unbeaten then, the pressure will really start to mount. They've got consecutive road games at St. Louis and Tampa in a couple of weeks (maybe this should be about the potential of another team going winless.)

Indy or Denver will lose a game -- unless they tie when they meet in Indianapolis on Dec. 13.

Assume the Colts win that game and remember how many times they've stumbled at 9-0 or 11-0 or 12-0. They now have three straight home games: San Francisco, Houston and the annual tussle with New England on Nov. 15. If that was in Foxborough, forget it. But it's inside on turf so it's another Manning-Brady shootout in which anything can happen.

So yes, someone may go unbeaten.

The precedent is that in 2007 we had an unbeaten team, and in 2008 we had a winless team.

If we're taking turns, take unbeaten.

And take the Saints.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

10-25-2009 @ 10:25PM

jbauer300 said...

As excited as I am about my Saints being undefeated, The last time a team went 16-0 look what happened. I'll take the Super Bowl trophy with one or two or three losses. I just want the championship.

10-26-2009 @ 8:56AM

abbienaidanmom said...

I agree! I just want that trophy in New Orleans!

10-25-2009 @ 11:48PM

lordsfitness said...

two words: Peyton Manning....

10-26-2009 @ 12:01AM

dsrimages said...

Saints are the best team in Football right now. Forget the record, the way they play makes the record what it is.

10-26-2009 @ 12:59AM

joecrpschrst said...

I agree the Saints are one of the best teams in the NFL right now. I've seen it, you've seen it, you're HOT and then you're coooold. There's still alot of football remaining. We'll see how it pans out later in the season!!

10-26-2009 @ 7:25AM

crumbs444 said...

vikings? giants? cowboys? eagles? seems saints are the class of the nfc.

the colts have been impressive in oct humbling the seahawks, titans & rams -- they also looked good on their bye, too: peyton filmed 20 more commercials and on top of that he found the time to attend the annual Lee Harvey Oswald lookalike festival

10-26-2009 @ 7:44AM

lsulinebacker64 said...

With the SAINTS game I had a few family members giving me calls and talking before the game was over. They were worried about a loss by the SAINTS. It was funny. It wasn't funny because I knew they were going to win. It was funny because the SAINTS were 5-0 and if when they loss their first game I won't be worried. Look it's now 6-0, did I ever exspect a record like this at the start of the year? NO! So when and if that first loss comes I'll except it easy because it's suppose to happen once in a year. Ask NEW ENGLAND from 2 SUPERBOWLS back. That one they lost just came at the worst time.

10-26-2009 @ 8:06AM

Those that want to say something again NEW ORLEANS it's not new. But the SAINTS have won their games in 3 different ways now. 1. They've won games in large scores. 2. They've won games in Defensive play while the offense was dull in a game. 3. They won this one coming back from a large deficit 24-3 at one time being 21 points behind and taking it in MIAMI. So the SAINTS have won them with OFFENSE, DEFENSE, and RESPONSE to heavy preasure on their backs.

10-26-2009 @ 9:02AM

vsmith7682 said...

I've been a Saints fan for 32 yrs. and I'm cautiously optimistic this year! I'm not yet to the point of dusting off the "Black and Gold Super Bowl" shirt that I've had since 1987! If any Saints team can make it to the Super Bowl, this is it. It won't have the "story" that 2006 would have had, but I'll take it any way I can get it! Still lots of football left, so we shall see.

10-26-2009 @ 9:26AM

Saints look great.

10-26-2009 @ 11:12AM

rosematt said...

The Saints have been impressive. I find it interesting that the vast majority of people think the Saints have the best chance to go undefeated though. I don't like the Colts, but they have been very impressive, although over not very good teams. The Broncos seem to be getting better every game, and have won three games in a row over quality opponents. You have to wonder whether the Broncos are that good (beating a New England team that went on to destroy the next two opponents and a desperate San Diego team that destroyed the Chiefs) or that all three good teams they beat had a bad game. Right now I doubt any team will finish undefeated, but the scare at Miami makes me wonder just how good the Saints are.

10-26-2009 @ 12:30PM

furrsher said...

Beware of any team peaking in October

10-26-2009 @ 1:58PM

guykingii said...

I've been a Saints fan since 1973 and seen lots of ways to lose. So even when they're a couple of touchdowns ahead this year, I watch scared. But I watch, and am loving this season.

10-26-2009 @ 2:47PM

samanthaldavis24 said...

Drew Brees may be having a M.V.P. season but i dont think the Saints are the best team in football just because their undefeated. there's certain things i couldn't help but notice, that have been in their favor. #1.poor Lions team with a rookie Q.B. Stafford. 2.facing Eagles with no Mcnabb and a no experienced Kevin Kolb. 3.You should have beaten Buffalo anyways. 4.Jets, again a playoff team against a rookie Q.B. in Sanchez. 4.Came off a bye week and beat a Giants team at home. that was impressive but the Giants defense was uncharacteristic. 5.Miami, again Dolphins playing a new Q,B. with no experience prior to this season, his fourth quarter mistake cost them a chance in a upset. the rest of their schedule is New England at home and Dallas at home as far as the tough games. Atlanta should'nt be a problem if the Saints are the real deal .But come play-off time, only the true battle tested survive and the Giants will probably be a diffrent team by then.

10-26-2009 @ 2:58PM

ctank2041 said...

Well..Well.I watch the first game New orleans played.I have seen the bag years.i never put one on!I watched Manning the father that is,play on some really bad team's.He was as good as his son's are!But this team? Yeah they are that good!Still a lot of game's to be played.Wish i could sit with Manning the father that is and ask him how you talk with son's?Love my New Orleans Saints! Win or lose!

10-26-2009 @ 2:59PM

LYNDA AND SCOTT said...

samantha,i love your logic. could you please give me some excuse ideas i can try on my ole lady ?? you seem to be great at coming up with excuses for everything.

10-26-2009 @ 3:39PM

I'll tell you what LYNDA AND SCOTT. The one thing you should always remember when coming up with an excuse, wether it's for your woman or just plain trying to figure out how good or bad your favourite team is. If there's is a hint of truth to your excuse then your not lying or being dishonest, because further down the road when the whole truth comes out it won't be as shocking too the system.

10-26-2009 @ 3:46PM

Jessica said...

GEAUX SAINTS!! TAKE 'EM ALL THE WAY DREW!!! THEY ARE THE BEST IN THE NFL RIGHT NOW AND WHETHER THEY WIN OR LOSE IN THE FUTURE, THEY'RE HAVING ONE HELL OF A SEASON!!! DEFINITE SUPER BOWL POTENTIAL....