I genuinely have a hard time remembering what I did on Monday, but I remember Jan. 5, 2020 as if it was yesterday.
That’s the day the Saints were again robbed in the playoffs, as Minnesota beat New Orleans 26-20 in overtime. Yet another stellar 13-3 regular season ended in a devastating playoff defeat. Jan. 5, 2020 was also the last time the Saints played in front of a packed house of Who Dats, primed beyond belief, to make the building as loud as possible.
The Saints have played 23 total playoff games and have played the Vikings 5 times, more than any other team. It’s not that five times is a lot (21.7%); it’s how we remember those games, except for one, of course. The 1987 game when the Vikings came to our house and handed it to the Black and Gold on what should have been our day. The 2017 playoff game in Minnesota was dubbed “The Minneapolis Miracle” as Stefon Diggs dug out our souls on the final play. Typically, if your playoff game has a nickname and your team isn’t in the title, you’ve had a bad day.
Saints’ fans did their part and more when New Orleans beat Minnesota in the 2010 NFC Championship on the way to the franchise’s only Lombardi Trophy. Saints fans can always make a difference. Even those lucky ones in 2020 who got to be in that number when the COVID cap was 3,000 and 6,000 Who Dats.
I figure right about now, you wonder: Does Mike even know that the Saints are playing the New York Giants this weekend, and not Minnesota. Is he lost?
I assure you I’m aware of that, but are you not just the least bit curious to see if I can circle the wagons and make Jan. 5, 2020, relevant this Sunday? It’s only been a year and 9 months — or 635 days — since that Minnesota game, but you have to consider what we’ve encountered in those 635 days.
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I don’t remember vividly most of the last 635. Still, I do remember well, Jan 5, and that feeling of walking off the field and mumbling something under my breath about another long offseason and having to see that Vikings touchdown, and the offensive pass interference that wasn’t called on Minnesota, over and over again.
You know, like in 2019, when the officials ripped off a piece of Louisiana, put it in their pockets, and flew back to their homes in Los Angeles. The Rams’ theft was far worse than the Minnesota no call, but back-to-back years … come on. We are hard-working people down here who deserve better.
Sunday at noon against the Giants, Saints fans can come inside Caesars Superdome and let it all out. Scream about tarps, Ida, governmental red tape, whatever your heart desires. The important thing is you’re heard. Get it all out from your gut just as you did when Steve Gleason blocked the Falcons punt in September of 2006. That was real, that was raw, that was unforgettable.
Not that you need one more ounce of motivation, but if you remember Jan. 5, 2020, you remember that it was Minnesota’s tight end Kyle Rudolph that pushed off of P.J Williams to catch the winning touchdown. I’m sure he’s a great guy and well respected, and I hope he has a successful career and life (after this week).
You see, he’s now a tight end for the New York Giants. Let me hear you Sunday. #WhoDat
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