The New Orleans Saints have dominated the NFC South since Sean Payton’s arrival. That’s simply the truth.
That run has included seven division crowns since he arrived in 2006, including the last four.
With tongue in cheek, I also say that coach Payton just doesn’t fare well when it comes to being on the sidelines in Tampa. That’s where he was standing when he was wiped out by Jimmy Graham in 2011, fracturing his tibia. He spent time in the locker room, then woozily directed traffic from the bench. He wasn’t there in 2012 because of the “bounty” suspension. This year he’ll be absent due to his second bout with COVID.
The perpetually ready Dennis Allen will take over Payton’s responsibilities while still calling the defensive plays. I respect and like Dennis Allen a lot, but his nickname, amongst the media and team is D.A. I mean I get the reference, but it seems to me, Dennis and Allen are not really in need of shortening to help remember. It’s also pretty easy to pronounce. To my recollection (something that’s shaky at best) there has been no other coach named Dennis to differentiate from.
People like New York Jet defensive lineman Folorunso Fatukasi being called “Foley,” or anything other than full name, I’m ok with, obviously. If you’ve read these columns this season, you already know, that I am very much like the dog “Dug” from the movie “Up.”
Anyway, SQUIRREL … I’ll continue.
Related
You see the Saints have been the hunted for some time, especially when it comes to Tampa Bay. The last time Tampa won a division crown, Sean Payton was a second-year head coach. That’s a long time to watch other teams win. And I’m aware of who won the Super Bowl last year, but don’t fool yourselves into thinking this Tampa squad doesn’t care about the NFC South crown.
After the Saints, the Bucs remaining opponents are the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers twice. It feels like regardless of what happens on Sunday Night Football, the Bucs winning the division title is only a matter of time. But mathematically, it’s not over until it’s over. If the Saints win out and the Bucs lose out, they’ll both finish 10-7. In that scenario the Saints would own the head-to-head sweep and the tiebreaker would hand New Orleans its 5th straight division title.
Generally speaking, if you’re using the word mathematically to explain a road to victory, it’s more about hope than facts anyway. That’s likely true here. But you’ve probably heard the phrase, “so you’re telling me there’s a chance?” And it is the holidays, after all.
I mean can you remember a season when everything went for right for the Saints? The ball was always bouncing their way. The officials weren’t imagining penalties that negated big plays in huge moments. I’ll refer you back to the tongue firmly planted in cheek.
This year has been the one where anything and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Did anyone even flinch when the news came out that the Saints would suddenly have to play a game without their head coach? I didn’t. In this bizarre season we’ve been trained to assume some new, unpredictable challenge will emerge to make the job a bit harder each and every week.
Related
I’m not sure what could make the Who Dats flinch or be surprised at this point. Battered and bruised the Saints will fight to the end and see what happens.
We aren’t leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this team. No, no, we’re all in this together. At 6-7 this is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We are going to press on, and somehow, someway, we’re going to have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Kaye.
Happy Holidays Who Dats, it’s time for the Saints to go hunting.