The Saints are coming off one of the biggest victories in their 43-year history, so there are questions.
Four years now, Drew Brees has had answers. His relationship with the media is a vivid part of his life as the game itself. Sometimes he asks and answers the questions nobody thought to ask. He carries the Saints on his back.
Thanksgiving is when the NFL really gets counts. You can see who the real men are now. There was an electric, almost Super Bowl-like atmosphere in the sold-out Superdome.
The 11-0 Saints overwhelmed the Patriots in a statement game on Monday night and the games are only going to get bigger as they go after a 16-0 season. The magic-ride season continues on Sunday at Washington, D.C.
Brees almost had a perfect night throwing the football. His passer rating was a perfect 158.3. "I thought he was outstanding," said Saints coach Sean Payton after the game. "He was special. Let's just say he's playing real well. It was a great job by him. It was magnificent."
"People are going to talk about this game for a long time, and maybe blow it out of proportion a little bit,." said the quarterback, who threw touchdown passes to five different receivers. "But this game doesn't entitle us to anything.
"We played a tremendous football team in the Patriots. They know how to win. They do things the right way. Anytime you can win and win that way, it builds confidence. But by no means is anybody going to rollover for us. We understand that, and we know next week's game against the Redskins is as big as this one."
A stat that was almost overlooked was that Brees had attempted only 16 passes going into the fourth quarter. That's less than half the number of throws attempted by the Pats; Tom Brady. He had completed 14 of those 16 passes for 307 yards (21.9 yards per catch) and four touchdowns.
Brees went on to hit 4-of-5 passes on the Saints' first series in the final quarter, the last to Marques Colston for 20 yards and his fifth touchdown. Colston, who is built more like a tight end than a wideout, dragged the Pats ' safety across the goal line.
"That's kind of what I do," said Colston, whose 121 yards led the team."I didn't realize I was the fifth receiver who got a score tonight .But that doesn't surprise me.That's Drew Brees."
Brees connected with seven different receivers, and that was without starters Lance Moore and Reggie Bush. who were inactive.
When seldom-used tight end Darnell Dinkins hauled in a 2-yard YD pass in the third quarter, he became the 20th Saint to score this season.
"This was a special night," said Brees. "The receivers did a great job getting open and then making some big-time runs after the catch."
Playoff picture
The Colts are in the playoffs and the Saints and Vikings are close. After that it's anyone's guess as to who will make the playoffs and who won't with 12 of 16 teams within two games of a playoff spot, the AFC playoff picture is murkier than the NFC, where nine teams reside within the two-game standard. It all means a furious five-week finish.
NFC Standings
Division Leaders W L T Div Conf
_________________________________________________________________________
Saints 11 0 0 3-0 7-0
Vikings 10 1 0 5-0 8-0
Cowboys 8 3 0 2-1 6-2
Cardinals 7 4 0 3-1 5-2
The Saints Monday night victory against the Patriots will be encored in a fast-paced, 90-minute format on NFL Network's Replay on Wednesday at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
The Saints are the NFL's 24th most popular team in a Harris poll foe America's favorite football team. The Cowboys were chosen as the No. 1 team for the third straight year. The Steelers come in at No. 2 and the Bears are No. 3. Rounding out the top 5 are the Colts at No. 4 and the Patriots at No. 5. The Titans jumped 16 spots to No. 9 and the Falcons moved up 13 spots to No. 13. On the bottom at No. 32 are the Jaguars, one spot behind the Lions and Rams. The Saints ranked No. 17 on last year's poll...
How did Mike McKenzie get a job back with the Saints? McKenzie, who was released by the team last March because of knee injuries, saw that the Saints were having injuries at cornerback and he called Coach Sean Payton. "When I left last March the coach told me to stay ready," said McKenzie. "So I called and told him I was in good shape and ready to play, and he told me they going to bring me in to look at me. They did and signed him just before the Patriots game. "I played in the NFL 10 years and loved every minute of it," said McKenzie. I stayed in shape and ready to play, and if someone gave me the opportunity to play again, I'd be ready." McKenzie played like a Pro Bowler against the Patriots and intercepted a pass aimed at Randy Moss. It's amazing that this guy can still play and didn't have a job until the Saints signed him.
Hornets lose fifth straight on road
The Hornets suffered their fifth straight loss on the road, losing 110-99 to the Lakes at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Rookie guard Darren Collison, formerly of UCLA, played well of injured Chris Paul, who sat out his eighth consecutive game because of a sprained ankle. Collison scored 20 points with 5 assists. For the Lakers (14-3), Andrew Bynum hit 21 points, Kobe Bryant scored 18 and Ron Artest made 14,
A surprising close game for a while turned into the Lakers seventh straight victory. The Lakers now have the NBA's best record after Phoenix got blown out Tuesday by New York. The Lakers' last seven victories, all against teams with mediocre records at best, have come by an average margin of victory of 16.7 points.
The game looked like it could go either way after the first quarter that had the Lakers ahead, 31-27. But unfortunately for the Hornets, the Lakers outscored the Hornets 31-15 in the second quarter and the game was over. The Hornets don't look like they'll be a threat in the Western Conference this season. The Hornets finished a close second to the Lakers two seasons ago.
The Hornets (7-10) were without three-point shooter Peja Stojakovic for the second consecutive game because of an illness in his family.
After losing to the Kings 112-96 on Sunday night, the Hornets worked extensively on defense in practice on Tuesday, but the extra work didn't help.
It was the Hornets' ninth road loss in 10 games.
The Hornets return home against Minnesota on Friday night.
From Rick Telander,Chicago Sun-Times: "This was what, a five-year death? Charlie Weis was terminal in South Bend from Day One. The only people who didn't know that are the teeming masses of the Nutso Notre Dame Nation, the flailing, bipolar pilgrims around the world who are so domed insane they can't tell green from gold, a Hail Mary from a Hell No. Weis was not right for Notre Dame in so many ways -- except for having been a student there -- that it boggles the brain trying to figure out what boosters and board movers-and-shakers saw in him. How wrong was Weis at Notre Dame" Besides the fact he never played football,was an assistant from the NFL, a man who rode the coattails of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, who knew and cared little about defense, who was not a great recruiter, who was a physically and personally charmless semi-leader, with a charisma-free, oddly cocky, and, at times, some would argue -- repugnant -- personality? There's more. Just ask Notre Dame leaders now. He never changed. He simply revealed himself. A slug showed its slime."
The Saints are coming off one of the biggest victories in their 43-year history, so there are questions.
