Anyways, as you undoubtedly know, the New Orleans Saints are tearing up the NFL and sitting pretty at 12-0. I've been a Saints fan for almost 22 years now. I was born in New Orleans and my Dad and his side of the family still reside there. I moved to Texas around the age of 3 with my Mom, but retained my Saints' blood. Throughout grade school, I took shit from all the loser Cowboys fans.. especially during their championship days in the 1990s (for the record, its been over a decade since the Cowboys have beaten the Saints.. so SUCK IT).
Well, throughout their history, the Saints have been marred with bad teams and even worse luck. It took them 20 years to muster a winning season. They are one of only a few teams to have never played in a Superbowl. Not to have never won a Superbowl, mind you, to have never PLAYED in a Superbowl. Well, as I already mentioned, the Saints are 12-0 and look unstoppable. Their magical season got even more magical with a last minute, improbable comeback yesterday against the Redskins.
For those who don't know, the Saints trailed by 7 points with 2 minutes left in the game (with zero time outs). The Redskins had the ball on the Saints 3 yard line and lined up to attempt a field goal no longer than an extra point (NFL kickers make this kick at least 95 percent of the time... probably higher). If the Redskins' kicker (Shaun Suisham) makes the field goal, the Saints fall to a 10 point deficit and likely have no chance to win the game.
As I watched, trying to remind myself that the Saints would still be 11-1 and division champions (due to an Atlanta Falcon loss earlier in the day), I see Shaun Suisham do the impossible and miss the 23 yard field goal. The camera then shows Drew Brees running onto the field, clapping his hands. To make a long story short, Drew Brees does the improbable and leads the Saints to a last minute touchdown to send the game into overtime. The Saints LOSE the coin toss, but force a fumble, recover the fumble, and eventually kick a game winning field goal. Unbelievable.
After 22 years of seeing this kind of thing happen to the Saints, I was in disbelief. This brings me to the back to the title of this post. During the game, the TV cameras randomly zoomed in on a lone Saints fan. This was an old, ragged looking man by himself in the midst of Redskins' fans. The Saints had been beaten up all day and it looked bleak, and yet the man was smiling as if he knew that somehow, some way, the Saints were going to pull out the victory. Maybe someone had just cracked a joke, maybe he is just a naturally happy person, but I'm going to believe that he DID know and that he was, in some way, watching over the team.
Could this be our "Al, the Boss Angel"? It certainly seemed like the Saints had some "extra" help with some bounces and the missed field goal. So far this season, it seems that no matter how poorly the Saints play, they cannot lose. Perhaps this is just karma (as some, like Drew Brees, have suggested). There is a notion that "what goes around comes around" floating around the heads of Saints' fans. I remember going to a Saints game with my dad about 8 years ago. The Saints needed a win and a Falcons loss to make the playoffs. The Falcons lost. The Saints also lost.. against the 3-12 Carolina Panthers. 70,000 people had their hearts broken (and it wasn't the first for many). I remember seeing a grown man sitting in his seat staring at the field in disbelief as the clock ticked to 0:00. His wife or girlfriend was sitting beside him trying to console him, but he looked like a little kid who had just seen his dog put to sleep.
That loss in 2002 was just "another heart breaker" for Saints' fans who have seen too many. Something is different about this season. There isn't "doubt". For a fan base that has seen the impossible steal away victories, we do not feel worried. It feels destined. It has to be our time. Seeing that old, rugged man in his ragged Saints gear at the Redskins game gives me no doubt that now is our time. It makes me feel like someone truly is watching over the Saints. I know this guy is probably just some old man who finally made it to a Saints game, but his smile in the face of adversity gives me immense hope. I really feel like he knows something we don't. I feel that he knows the Saints will finally bring a Superbowl trophy to New Orleans.
Some people tell me "it's just a game." And it is just a game, at least on the surface. But, in reality, it's more than that. This team is more than "just an NFL team" for the hundreds of thousands of Saints' fans inside and outside New Orleans. This team gives us something to hope for. This team gives us something to look forward to. I have a pretty good life. I am a college student with great parents and am in a great situation for the future, and yet I feel that the best part of my week is watching the Saints play on Sunday. I can only imagine what some are going through with these tough economic times, especially those still trying to recover from the devastation caused by Katrina just 4 short years ago (I'm sure you are sick of hearing about Katrina, but it is very real and people are still recovering). These Saints have a history of letting down their faithful fan base, and this fan base is used to the heart break of Saints team after Saints team letting them down. But, as I said, this feels different. This feels real. This feels like fate, like 42 years of bad luck and bad teams is finally going to come back around in a big way.
Hell, we all saw Darvin Moon, wearing his Saints cap, get 2nd place in the World Series of Poker Main Event. So, maybe it really is just a lucky year to be a Saints' fan. It is about time, but if that is the case, I can promise you it was worth the wait. Of course, I have waited only roughly half the time as many Saints' fans (the old farts who were around in 1967 when football came to New Orleans). Anyways, I will leave you with a highlight from yesterday's game. One of the most improbable plays I have ever seen. Also, I'm gonna leave you with a highlight from a past Saints game, also one of the most improbable series of plays I have ever seen (in a negative way).
This play really needs no explanation. Just watch and enjoy.
Notice in this play - 7 seconds to go 70 yards. The Saints were down by 7. They do the impossible and score, leaving only an extra point for the tie. Watch to the end to see what happens on the point after.
This is what we are used to, and yet, this season doesn't worry me like years past. This must be what Destiny feels like.
"We'll all be watching, remember that. Even though you can't see us, we're always watching" - AL
-John
