Couldn’t resist. Had a few more e-mails to add before the Tampa Bay game. All these questions came from the same account, but they were nice enough to leave their real, different names. Oh, and Merry Christmas Eve.
Am I clinically insane for taking this loss so hard? I mean, it's not just that we lost. Sure, we wanted 19-0. As Drew Brees said, some of us felt entitled to it. Like the city deserved it. The region deserved it. The players owed it to the fans. But the signs of a loss were there. I'm glad it happened during the season and not in the playoffs. But to the Cowboys? Really? Of all the teams to lose to, the Dallas frakkin Cowboys? Am I crazy to think that I would rather lose to the Falcons, Bucs or Panthers than to Dallas? I know it's not a divisional rivalry, but I certainly HATE "America's Team"!
Sincerely,
Every La. resident who doesn't live in Shreveport
Look, you’d rather have your first loss in December than in January if given the choice. And say what you will, but this may be the best thing that happens to this team before all is said and done now that the undefeated monkey is off its back.
My favorite part of this whole thing-- Guess who benefits the most from the loss Saturday? Everyone in the Superdome for the Tampa Bay game, including yours truly. Think about it: if you win against Dallas, which would have been nice, of course, you would have wrapped up your division by default after the Vikings laid a giant dog turd against Carolina. Don’t get me wrong, the chance to go 19-0 was more important at the time, but now you can do something incredibly special for your home crowd Sunday.
Don’t think the Saints don’t know this. And Tampa Bay more than likely knows this, too. The Bucs have shown some life recently, but I don’t think it will be enough to stop the Saints from rolling at home this weekend. It’s made me 1,000x more excited to do the Time Line next week.
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Since you will be in the Superdome this weekend for the Saints' game against Tampa, please tell Jermon Bushrod thanks for me. That dude made me and Anthony Spencer look like we were rushing against East Jefferson High School. Oh, also remind him that I had suffered a neck injury the week before and was only about 85 percent when I destroyed him. Don't you think the Saints need some help at left tackle in the playoffs, especially if they see me and my teammates again?
DeMarcus,
Arlington
First of all, DeMarcus, I’m floored you even suited up. I watched the hit you took last week and thought your whole defense was going to be suspect. Kudos to you for playing even though your status was 50/50 48 hours before kickoff. I hate giving any Cowboys credit, so after this graph I’m through. But I’m glad you’re okay.
Now…
Let’s get back to Jermon Bushrod. I truly hate it for this kid. You’re asking a tackle from Towson to step in and find a way to play on a line for an undefeated team that has played without its stud (Jamaal Brown) and not have a bad game. Yeah, he made you look like a pro-bowler, and in all honesty, after that performance, you should be. Crap, I just complimented a Cowboy again. Let’s move on before there’s a Miles Austin Fathead in my “office” room next to Drew Brees.
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Is Sean Payton schizophrenic? It seems his play-calling can be so hot and cold. I know the Saints fell behind 14-0 early, and they tried to play catch up all game. I'll grant you the argument that the offensive line just didn't get any push off the line of scrimmage, but Payton can't expect his team to win without any balance in the playcalling. Drew Brees threw the ball 45 times. Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush combined for 11 carries. Repeat, ELEVEN CARRIES! You cannot win games in the National Football League like that. One of the reasons the Saints offense has been so dynamic this year is how well they have run the football. Can someone please drill that into Payton's head so he'll remember it every week?
Bobby J,
Baton Rouge
To be honest, I have to blame the defense foremost for this. When you’re playing from behind, your first instinct is to throw the ball to try to play catch-up as quickly as possible. I can’t blame the play calling entirely, except for the fact that Payton and company forgot that they’ve played from that far behind and beyond a larger portion of the season than we’d all like to remember.
Actually, you know what? Scratch what I just said. Down 14-0 when you’re the 2009 New Orleans Saints means you actually have a ten-point lead. Payton strayed from what had worked all season: a delicate balance of run and pass that he neglected in 2007 and 2008. We’re so quick to recognize Sean Payton as an offensive genius that it takes a look at the final box score before we really see what went wrong. A 45-pass, 11-rush scenario is not going to win in the postseason, much less the Superbowl. I hope the Saints’ coaching staff realizes this before it’s too late. These next two games against Tampa Bay and Carolina should help get the team and the fan base some confidence back.
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Love the columns. Tell all those stupid bandwagon fans to either fully support this team or stay the hell away. We're still 13-1, still the top team in the NFC and still on our way to winning a Super Bowl.
Rachel,
Metairie
I’ll say this: it’s been over 40 long years of wandering in the wilderness so I’ll take whatever fans we can get in Who Dat Nation. I’m sorry if this upsets diehards, but it’s sadly true. Let's keep churning out as many fans as possible without thinking we're invincible. If you don’t believe me, ask the Baltimore Colts, Seattle Sonics, Cleveland Browns 1.0, etc., …
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Just wanted to send you a personal apology after last week. After showing signs of life again in the win over Atlanta, I busted a big 30-yard run up the middle (no dancing and I ran hard), caught a pass for a first down and even fielded a punt without running backward. But I tweaked a hammy and was done for the night. Sorry that I again reverted to being an injury-prone softie. Please forgive me Who Dat Nation!
R.B.,
The Big Easy via San Diego
To answer your question first: we’ll forgive you after you promise to play the same way against us when you sign with the Dallas Cowboys for a 6-year, $70 million contract during the upcoming uncapped offseason.
Honestly, R.B., I’m at a loss as to what to do with you. Seeing you in someone else’s uniform will hurt a lot more than, say, Joe Horn suiting up for the Falcons. But you’re going to want more money than you’re entitled to, and that makes me sad. I understand the NFL is a business, but you won’t find any green pastures anywhere else right now. I hope you’re here for the long run, but not if it’s going to break our bank. There are a lot of other guys that we need to pay before we can pay you, plain and simple.
Of course, I’ll look forward to your 4 touchdown, 170 all purpose-yard performance Sunday against the Buccaneers to make me eat my words.
