2DAT

Well it’s over.
The most enjoyable “wait” til next year in the history of civilization will come to an end with the kickoff Thursday night against the Vikings.
The world is now educated on how to celebrate a sports victory.
Thank the who dat nation.
We parade, we tour, we banner, we dress, we take pictures with the Lombardi trophy. And we do it for 7 months almost to the day. We’re crazy.

Time to start the craziness all over.
Thursday night the geezer express comes to town along with the type of overblown glitz only the NFL can throw together. Here’s the good news – I didn’t think it was possible but the Saints are starting this year right where they started last year.
Under the radar, under respected, and under appreciated.
The talking head consensus is that it was a fluke.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
The first game will be fun, but it really is just one game. Expect the refs to put a dress on Favre, Adrian Peterson to run hard, the Vikings to be fired up for a half, but the Saints to separate themselves in the 2nd half. The Saints are better.

So, my annual prediction.

Will the Saints repeat?
Yes.
Will it be easy?
No

It won’t be like last year.
There are many different ways to win a championship.
1. Euphoric year
Last year was one of Euphoria. From the first game, you could just feel the Magic. When I saw the Saints destroy the Lions in game 1, I just knew. It had all the earmarks.
Everything was set up for it.
The toughest opponents came calling at the Superdome - Jets, Giants, Patriots, Cowboys. Magical comebacks on the road – Miami, Washington.
Eventually wore down worthy divisional opponents.
The injuries in the defensive backfield came when the playoffs had essentially been sealed.
Home Field Advantage.
All-time great quarterbacks threw critical interceptions.
The dominoes fell perfectly.

We’ve seen Euphoria years before.
Remember the 1999 St. Louis Rams in Kurt Warner’s first year and their greatest show on turf?
Remember the 1984 Detroit Tigers who started the season by winning 35 of 40 and then breezed through the whole year?
Remember the 1986 Chicago Bears and their famed 46 defense?
These teams, like the Saints, had euphoric, invincible years.

2. Steady Eddy
A good team plays well all year and fights its way to the title, sometimes as an underdog.
The New England Patriots have excelled at this.

3. Hot finish
A team gets hot and healthy as the playoffs begin and streak through. This is really the most common NFL path.
The New York Giants of 2007 come to mind.

If it truly is “our time” and we want to become a dynasty, we now have to get on the Steady Eddy path. This Steeler/Patriot/49er type of path usually centers around the one absolutely essential piece.
The Quarterback.

We’ve got one.

So, my predictions for this year:
A solid, steady year.
The Saints will get off to a fast start, probably 5 – 1, then go through a 3 – 3 stretch in midseason as they adjust to what teams are doing to them. Then, a strong finish will boost them into the playoffs.
A breakout year by Reggie Bush
The defense will be better. Fewer turnovers, but much less yardage allowed, and fewer points.
Drew Brees will get the NFL MVP he deserved last year.
Colston, Pierre Thomas, and Lance Moore will excel.
We’ll beat the Packers in the NFC Championship game after beating the Vikings in the first round. The Lions will be the surprise playoff team in the NFC.
We’ll have our pre-Super Bowl meal at Steve Fields Steak House in Plano.
We’ll beat the Houston Texans 34 – 31 in the Super Bowl. The Texans will have beaten the Kansas City Chiefs (the surprise team of the year) in the AFC Championship.
Drew Brees will be the Super Bowl MVP again.
Any questions?

Jerry Jones will fire Bum Phillips
The Chargers will fire Norv Turner
The Giants will fire Tom Coughlin

We’ll fire up a parade. It’s what we do.