Saints Sideline Blog

SAINTS “SEVENTH” HEAVEN

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009      Email Print

DATELINE: New Orleans, LA / November 3rd, 2009 (Was that the longest game in NFL history?)
 
There hasn't been anything lucky about this "seven." Its been a well rounded "seven," a magnificent "seven" and for the second straight week,a resurgent "seven". New Orleans may be labeled as perfect but are proving they can overcome their imperfections. On Monday night, Atlanta was poised to play in the Dome where they gave the Saints its first home deficit of the season. In fact thanks to spotty defense and early turnovers, New Orleans didn't take its first lead over Atlanta until 1:05 left in the first half when Reggie Bush waltzed in the endzone to put the Saints up 21-14. The Saints would never trail again.
 
For the only the second time in franchise history, the Saints are off to a 7-0 start. The other time was back in 1991, when New Orleans would finish 11-5, a record any Who Dat fan would have been happy with before the season. The amazing thing is the way this team is playing and more importantly. the way the schedule lays out the rest of the way, 11-5 in 2009 would be a disappointment. With nine games left, New Orleans is one win shy of their total of ALL of last season with a schedule that is the NFL's easiest from here on out. Sure they play the Patriots and the Cowboys but both of those games are at home. Their toughest test may be a roadie rematch against the Falcons. The rest of the docket is against teams with losing records. The biggest loser would be the Bucs who the Saints will play twice. Then you have two games against the struggling Panthers. The news gets better as New Orleans also has a matchup against two of the worst teams in the league in the Redskins and Rams.
 
Not only is the schedule easy but the division is looking like Easy Street for the Saints. The Black and Gold have only played one divisional game but already own a three game lead in the NFC South. The Falcons had a chance to cut the lead to a game on Monday but the Saints weren't about to give in. This team admitted this was a contest that was closer than it should have been. Tracy Porter made the play of the game picking off Matt Ryan on a fourth quarter drive which could have given Atlanta the lead.. The Saints committed four turnovers which helped the Falcons fly back and back and back into the game.
 
The Saints have surprised many around the NFL with its perfect play.Talking to the players after the game, you can truly feel their confidence. This team has felt they could make some noise all the way back to the offseason workouts where the new additions started making a difference. The confidence has been fueled by the best start in the history of the franchise. The team boasts depth, great chemistry and balance. On offense they have 16 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing TD's. They are the highest scoring offense AND defense where every starter on both sides of the ball is making plays. After seven games, its clear these Saints are in seventh heaven.
 
WHO DAT HITS
 
INJURY UPDATE: Lance Moore left the game in the 1st half with a shin injury while center Jonathan Goodwin left late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. He was replaced by Jamar Nesbit.
 
ELLIS ISLAND: Sedrick Ellis is still on the injury island with a knee injury. His rehab is progressing but he could return in a month or less.
 
CATCHING ON: I have covered every Saints game under Sean Payton and can't remember a better performance by his receivers. Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey kept late drives alive by making unbelievable grabs. The best catch may have been by Devery Henderson who made a great diving catch to set up a TD.
 
OFF AND RUNNING: Sean Payton had a great gameplan which featured all of his running backs. It was Mike Bell early, then Pierre Thomas late with a dash of Reggie Bush in the middle. Thomas' first TD drive was a thing of beauty and then in the second half he puntuated the day with his second TD.Bush allso found the endzone and made a few tough runs.
 
"WILL" IT TO HAPPEN: Will Smith seems to get better every week. Matt Ryan would agree as the Saints Defensive lineman was in his face all day where Will totaled two sacks.
 
CARNEY CONCERNS?? I think Sean Payton may wanna give thought to benching or cutting John Carney, in favor of Garrett Hartley. The Saints kicker has been inconsistent the past two weeks where he missed an extra point and a hand full of field goals against the Dolphins and Cowboys. By the way, do you know hom many times Hartley has missed a FG as a member of the Saints, how about 0 in regular season games.
 
SEVEN STARTS: Many of the Saints tell me they have never been 7-0. Jon Stinchcomb admits it has never happened to him in his NFL year and not even at Georgia where he confesses losing to Florida every year prevented him from winning his first seven games. Drew Brees tells me the only other time he was 7-0 was when he was a high school quarterback.
 
UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors

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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