Sept. 17, 1967, the city of New Orleans held its first regular season football game featuring the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams. Not surprisingly, the team lost its home opener 27-13 and finished a dismal 3-11. The three wins of the season were against the Eagles, Falcons and Redskins. Wait it gets worse.
Let’s jump back in H. G. Well’s time machine and travel back to 1970-1982, when Archie Manning, a hometown favorite, was quarterback for 12 years. The Saints managed to destroy the best opportunity in franchise history.
Even with the help of one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, the team’s best record during the Manning years was 8-8 in 1979.
Many people think that if Archie had been with a decent team other than the Saints, he would have two or three Super Bowls rings.
Over the next 20 years, the Saints laid eggs before finally having a winning season in 1987 when the team went 12-3 under who could arguably be one of the best coaches the franchise has seen since its inception, Jim Mora.
From his antics with the media to quitting with games left in the season, Mora turned this team around. Even though Mora did not win a playoff game, it was the best tenure New Orleans fans had seen in 20 years.
People say, “You can’t judge a book by its cover,” but the statement does not apply to the Saints. There are those who are winners and those who are losers; unfortunately, the Saints are the latter. The 2006 season was an outlier, a fluke and certainly not the norm.
The Saints are back in 2007 with a style of football that is all to familiar to the team.
Penalties, fumbles, interceptions and poor pass protection have defined the team’s style so far, and frankly, that is “Saints Football.” Is it really any surprise?
For die-hard fans, the law of averages says the New Orleans Saints are due for a Super Bowl ring sooner or later. They have not given up on the season and hope that after the bye week, the team will get their act together and play football the way they did last year.
If the Saints are going to turn this dismal season around, they will need some help from the offensive-line. Since the season-ending injury to Deuce McAllister, the coaching staff will have to get more creative in the offensive playbook than last year. Also, it seem like the Saints are trying to make things happen; the players need to relax and play with confidence.
The offensive line will have to dig deep and play exceptionally in the trenches. Drew Brees needs time, and that’s the bottom line.
I don’t care if Peyton Manning was our quarterback and the Saints had the best receivers and running backs in the league, without a solid O-line, scoring points does not happen.
The team is definitely in a slump. Hopefully with a must win against the Panthers, the Saints can get back on track. I’m reminded of a stanza by Walter D. Wintle, “Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but soon or late the man who wins is the one who thinks he can.
