KIM’s bringing Santa’s home here
December 8, 2009
Galeand Raymond Theriot
December 10, 2009
The Saints were certain to have their unbeaten streak end. The Washington Redskins held a 30-23 lead and were driving deep into Saints territory with less than two minutes to play in the game to set up a 23-yard field goal that if converted would have almost certainly sealed the Saints’ fate for the day.
But a high snap forced Shaun Suisham’s kick to sail wide right and the Saints drove the ball 80 yards in 33 seconds to take the game to overtime. The team rode their momentum to an 18-yard field goal and an improbable 33-30 win.
“I don’t know about the voodoo, but I definitely believe in destiny,” said Saints quarterback Drew Brees following the game. “I believe in karma, and what goes around comes around. We’ve been on the other side of this deal probably too many times, and maybe it’s our time, that we start catching some of the breaks.”
Saints coach Sean Payton said the team’s mental toughness allowed them to not give up despite the deficit late in the game.
“They had us on our heels and we were fortunate to hang in there,” said Payton. “The missed field goal was huge and gave us life and Drew [Brees] marched us right down there and made some big plays.”
Brees finished the game 35-of-49 with two touchdown passes and a season-high 419 yards passing.
But despite the big offensive day, safety Darren Sharper said he knows the Saints were given a gift from lady luck on Sunday.
“The missed field goal gave us new life and there was sort of a feeling of destiny on our side,” Sharper said. “It still came down to having to make plays, but getting a big break like that was huge and we capitalized.”
The win clinched the NFC South for the Saints, which guarantees the team will play at least one home playoff game.
But the Saints are approaching loftier goals.
If the Saints win three of their final four games or if the Vikings lose at least one of their final games, the Saints will also earn a first-round bye in the playoffs and if the team can stay ahead of the Minnesota Vikings in the standings, the Saints will earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Playing in the Louisiana Superdome will likely be a top priority for the Saints during their final stretch run of the season because the teams three biggest scares of the season – at Miami, at St. Louis and at Washington – were all road games.
But the team can also chase perfection and attempt to be the third team in NFL history to go through the regular season undefeated – a quest the Saints share with the Indianapolis Colts, who are also 12-0.
But that formula has had mixed results in recent history.
The Patriots went through the regular season unbeaten two seasons ago, but did not win the game that mattered most, losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl.
So with the Saints facing several injuries on the defensive side of the ball, it’s yet to be determined whether New Orleans will pursue perfection or try to go into the playoffs healthy.
For now, Payton is just happy to remain unblemished on the season after what was the team’s biggest scare of the season.
“There is a lot of confidence in the team right now and they wouldn’t quit and just kept clawing their way back in there,” Payton said.
“I am proud of the way they just kept battling.”
Saints facts
Record: 12-0 (The only other times the Saints won 12 games in one season were 1987 and 1992.)
Division Champs: 4 times (1991, 2000, 2006 & 2009)
Playoff appearances: (1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2006 & 2009)
‘Dome’ field advantage: for the Saints to clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs they need to either: win at least three of their remaining four games or have the Vikings lose another game and win two of their last four. They must finish a game ahead of the Vikings.
Redskins with local flare: Two of the biggest Saints’ plays of the game involved to Louisiana Redskins. It was Nicholls product Kareem Moore’s interception of a Drew Brees pass that quickly turned into a 44-yard fumble recovery for Robert Meachem after the receiver stripped the ball from the grasp on the safety. Also, LSU alum Laron Landry bit on Meachem’s double move on the scoring pass that sent the game into overtime.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem (17) grabs the ball stripped from Washington Redskins safety Kareem Moore. Meachen carried the ball in for a touchdown. * Photo by NICK WASS / Associated Press
