Saints Sideline Blog

A CRAZY EIGHTH

Monday, November 9th, 2009      Email Print

DATELINE: New Orleans, LA / November "8TH", 2009 (Saints Fans...How's the Heart Rate??)
 
The record reads 8-0. Its the best start in franchise history. Its perfect, but let's face it the past three weeks have been anything but for the Saints. After pulling off a Miami Miracle, then playing comeback on Monday night versus the Falcons, they followed it up with a Carolina heartstopper which completed the Cardiac trilogy for the Saints Nation. For the third straight week, it seemed the Saints had a harder time beating the Saints than the opposition. This is a credit to a team who despite all of its imperfections, remains one of two perfect teams in the NFL.
 
Call it a bad matchup but its amazing how the Saints always have a hard time against Carolina, especially at home. Before Sunday, Sean Payton, Drew Brees and the bulk of this team have never bested the Panthers inside the Superdome as John Fox and company were going for their seventh straight win in New Orleans. The home team didn't help its cause once again early as it for the first time all year they were shut out of the endzone in the first half. The Saints have formed a disturbing pattern in their past three games of false starts. Get behind, turn the ball over, only to turn things around in the second half. Drew Brees told me after the game that he has been impressed with the Saints' halftime demeanor the past three games where their confidence hasn't wavered, despite the lackluster play. Recent history has shown these Saints can overcome any obstacle but they know sooner or later, this trend can bite back. I know, I know,  back off the team they are perfect, but the truth is,they all know they can play better.
 
Yes move over Rocky, the Saints have created its own set of sequels. Like the boxer, New Orleans can take an early licking but keep on ticking. Miami was their Apollo Creed but unlike the Italian Stallion these Saints went the distance and won. In Rocky Two, the Saints muscled up for its NFC Showdown against the Falcons to land a few  haymakers only to knockout the Dirty Birds. In Rocky Three, there was no Mr T "Clubber" Lang, but the Panthers DeAngelo Williams did his best imitation by running wild over the Saints in the 1st Half. Unlike Rocky, these Saints have never lost a bout. To their credit they have done what winning teams do, pull out a victory when they are not playing their best football.
 
The end result, who would have predicted this scenario for the Saints? Its halfway through the season and they have as many wins as they did ALL of last year. The second half of the season should have plenty of positives as this team will have the easiest schedule in the NFL, but with one caveat. You know every team whether its the Rams or the Patriots will bring its A-game with the hopes of giving New Orleans its first loss of the season. A season where they started out by knocking people out, preceded to take teams best shot and win and now hope to have the "eye of the tiger" the rest of the way.
 
WHO DAT HITS
 
MEACHEM'S MOMENT: Another week, another star for the Saints offense. With Lance Moore sitting this one out, Robert Meachem leads the way with 98 yards receiving. He averaged nearly 20 yards a catch, including an impressive and game breaking 54 yard touchdownto tie the game up in the 3rd Quarter.
 
HARGROVE STEPS UP: Like the offense, it seems every week somebody different on defense finds the endzone. This week it was reserve Anthony Hargrove who iced the game with a fumble recovery for six. People around the country think the scoring a lot of times is the offense, that's not the case.
 
WILLIAMS SLOWED DOWN: The Saints turned the tables in the second half on Carolina's running machine DeAngelo WIlliams. In the first half, he tallied 115 yards, in the second half he was helt to 34! That would never have happened in years past.
 
GREER UPDATE: Biggest injury of the game was Jabari's groin in the 4th quarter. The good news afterwards Payton acknowledged it wasn't serious.
 
SMITH VERSUS SHARPER: Things got a little chippy between veterans Steve Smith and Darren Sharper especially after Sharper hit Smith late in the 2nd quarter. The two were seen talking after the game and Shaper told me afterwards everything was fine between the two veterans who have lots of respect for each other.
 
UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors
CST

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

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