When Monday Night Football is in New Orleans - the excitement takes over the city. There is always a holiday-like atmosphere - people are jazzed even at work - the pace of just walking down the street picks up.
This Monday night - Monday Night Football game is a clash between the Saints and the Falcons in the Caesars Superdome. As if that wasn’t enough - it is a rematch of the re-opening of the dome after Katrina. This Monday night’s game is a “Domecoming” as the city and the NFL celebrate the 20th anniversary of that emotional reopening of the dome.
Before Hurricane Katrina - the Superdome was always a place for fun and excitement - like a concert or a sporting event. But when Katrina stuck and the levees broke - the Superdome became a place of refuge for thousands of New Orleanians who had no place to go as the lethal waters rose and chased them out of their homes.
The Superdome became a make-shift facility to house the thousands of helpless citizens and their families. The Dome was not designed for such use. Electrical power was lost, and so was the air conditioning. The city’s water pressure failed, and the bathroom facilities became disgustingly unsanitary. The toilets were totally inoperable. The high winds from the storm ripped off parts of the Dome roof and it leaked. The once-majestic structure was a disaster.
This week’s Monday Night Football game between the Falcons and the Saints will be shrouded in emotion. ESPN will build the emotion with visual reminders of what the city experienced after Katrina and the horrible conditions the storm created for the Superdome.
With the broadcast of Monday Night Football being baked in the emotion of New Orleans and the Dome after Katrina shown to the nation - emotion should be on the side of the Saints. When we think back on the re-opening of the Dome and that game between the Saints and the Falcons with the incredible moment of the blocked punt by Steve Gleason contributing to the Saints victory - it’s hard to believe that the Saints would not win that game.
Emotion will be on the side of the Saints tonight in the rematch of the game between the Saints and the Falcons and the 20th anniversary of the re-opening of the Superdome - but will the Saints take advantage of that emotion and beat the Falcons again?
The Saints and the Falcons are both 1-2 in the division and with the 2-2 Panthers winning Sunday - either the Saints or the Falcons will be 2-2 and tied for 1st place with the Panthers. Last week - the Saints lost a game they should have won against the Las Vegas Raiders - who were beaten this week by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Falcons went to Green Bay to upset the Packers. They have an an extra few days to heal since they last played September 24. So - who have the advantage? The Saints with the emotion behind them or the Falcons with extra time off and the return of their starting QB Michael Penix, Jr. The Falcons looked pathetic in their first two games - but last week came to life with a new spark with Penix back at QB. Beating the Packers in Green Bay was a huge boost for the Falcons.
My faith in the Saints is strong this year, and I feel especially positive about our QB Tyler Shough - who is being praised by numerous sports experts around the country. The Saints have had typical slow starts and did play up to potential at times - but the Saints are close to turning things around and with the “Domecoming” in the rematch with the Falcons - the Saints should ride the emotion surrouding tonight’s game to a division win of the team we love to hate - the Falcons.
How are you feeling about the game tonight?
