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Photograph by Jonathan Bachman

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If this feels like the biggest Saints win in franchise history, well, it’s because it is. A decisive win on Monday Night Football against the team that has set the standard for excellence in the NFL this decade? Yea, for the New Orleans Saints, it’s never been better than this.

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Of course, as I’ve mentioned before, with the Saints still undefeated, EVERY win from here on out will be the biggest in Saints history (especially when it comes to the playoffs when it’s win or go home). With New Orleans having to play just two more teams with winning records (@ Atlanta and vs. Dallas), a playoff spot is all but secured. Now it’s about gaining homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. For now though, let’s enjoy this win.

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Hot Gumbo:

• Drew Brees — He was perfect tonight — no, literally. His passer rating was a perfect 158.3. Brees also became the only player to throw three touchdowns in a quarter against any Bill Belichick-led team and it was just the fourth time a Belichick squad gave up four passing touchdowns. What’s that? oh, Brees had five touchdowns you say? Well isn’t that something? “Let’s just say he’s playing real well,” coach Sean Payton said afterwards. Yes, coach, let’s say that.
• Marques Colston — He only had four catches but he made them count. He finished with 121 yards and a touchdown that pretty much put the nail in the Pats’ coffin. Colston also helped me clinch in fantasy football this week and we know that’s what really matters.
• Devery Henderson — Henderson’s 33-yard catch on the first play from scrimmage for the Saints set the tone for a night where he finished with 116 yards and a touchdown on a play where he was left wide open. Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that the Saints have the deepest receiving corps in the league?
• Mike McKenzie — Seems ages ago that the Saints cut McKenzie and even more since he last played. Over a year off the field and he gets an INT in his first game back? That’s what you call a professional.
• Darren Sharper — Someone look for the Fountain of Youth in Orleans Parish because Sharper has clearly found it. He’s been playing great all season and his INT in the fourth quarter gave him eight for the year and was the dirt on the Patriots (you know, on top of the coffin Colston put the last nail in). Also, his 355 return yards off interceptions is just three shy of the Baltimore Ravens’ Ed Reed 2005 record.
• The Entire Saints Defense – I could spend all day listing players that contributed to this win but really, you have to just credit the unit as a whole. Two sacks, a forced fumble and two interceptions just beging to tell the story tonight. The Saints defense made the Patriots offense look bad to mediocre at best and that’s not something teams have been able to do for quite some time.

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Spoiled Crawfish:

• Tom Brady — Brady didn’t look as poised as he did when he led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl win in the Superdome back in 2001. Frustrated, flustered, and even scared at times is how I would’ve described his play tonight.
• Sedrick Ellis — I hate to pick on a guy who played so well coming off an injury, but just what in the hell was he thinking when he was trying to dance around with the football before fumbling it? Stick to sacking quarterbacks and stuffing running backs, big boy.
• Monday Night Football broadcasting crew — I didn’t get to listen to anything they said on air but I’m sure there was plenty of cringe-inducing moments. Enlighten me in the comments.

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Room-temperature Abita:

• Robert Meachem — On any other night he’d get a dish of nice, hot gumbo with his five receptions for 69 yards and a TD, but alas, too many players got gumbo and it’s silly to think anyone could make enough to feed every Saints player. Cheer up, lukewarm Abita can be chilled in a frosty-cold mug!
• Pierre Thomas — Didn’t do anything too flashy and didn’t really get too many rushing yards (64) but he was effective when called upon and you gotta love the effort he made on hist touchdown.
• John Carney — Maybe his first field goal, which he banked in off the post, should’ve been an indication that he wasn’t going to make that second field goal attempt late in the fourth. Either that or he just got tired from kicking all those extra points.
• Jeremy Shockey — Surprising fact: Shockey has caught a pass in 106 straight games. If only he could catch touchdowns so prolifically.

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Photograph by Jonathan Bachman

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Hot Gumbo:

• Darren Sharper – All this man does is catch interceptions and every once in a while return them for touchdowns. He had two INTs today and his 99-yard interception return for a touchdown set a new Saints’ franchise record and tied him for 9th on the NFL’s career interception list. “I’d say one of my strengths is reading quarterbacks and knowing where they’re going to go with the football,” he said. I’d say that too, Darren. I’d say that too.
• Pierre Thomas – It’s official, the Saints again have a running game that can wear down opponents at the end of games. Thomas is a big part of that. Though he only had 54 rushing yards through three quarters, his fourth quarter touchdown and 32 fourth-quarter yards sealed the deal for the Saints. “Every time I step on the field I’m gonna go balls-out, 110% of the time,” he said, which isn’t that insightful but I just had to print that he said “balls-out”.
• Saints’ D-Line – They were overwhelming, putting pressure on Sanchez all day and making the rookie play his age, sacking him four times and flushing him from the pocket multiple times (the Saints lead the league with hits on a quarterback, which is always good). Will Smith’s second quarter sack and forced fumble in the end-zone gave the Saints a touchdown and set the tone. “I came around the corner and he was waiting there right for me,” Smith said afterward. That gang-sack with 4:30 left in the fourth was icing on the cake.
• Special Teams – Huzzah! Saints’ special teams played as close to perfect as they could have today. John Carney nailed every one of his kicks and Thomas Morstead continues to kick the stuffing out of the ball on kickoffs and pushing teams back with his punt (his one shank, aside).
• Starting 4-0 – It’s just the third time in the franchise’s 43-year history that a Saints team started the season 4-0. That’s reason enough to celebrate. Just try to ignore that the previous two 4-0 starts lead to exactly zero playoff wins.

Spoiled Crawfish:

• Mark Sanchez – I have a friend that calls this kid “Franchez” (Sanchez + Franchise). It’s actually quite a clever nickname. Too bad he didn’t show any of that today, throwing for a measly YARDS and three interceptions. Rather, it was too bad for Jets fans. Who Dat nation was probably very pleased with Sanchez’s performance. Also, Mr. Sanchez? When a defensive player akin to Charles Grant or Will Smith comes at you, it’s best not to run backwards. Especially if you’re in the end zone.
• Reggie Bush – Read the details of his contract and tell me if he’s worth all the Saints are paying him. I dare you. Also, he’s back together with Kim Kardashian. Yay?
• The Circle K Blimp – That thing went bananas during the Jackson State marching band’s halftime show and crashed into fans sitting on all three levels near the north endzone. Worse piloting than the Hindenberg (HEY-O!).
• Jets Fans – They’ve invaded this town like the freakin’ plague this weekend and were poised to out-cheer the Who Dats in the Dome right up until Sharper’s touchdown. That shut them up good.

Room Temperature Abita:

• Drew Brees – This is his second sub-par performance against an AFC East team in a row. But, unlike Mark Sanchez, he didn’t do anything to lose the game for his team. And did you see that block in the second quarter to spring Reggie Bush for a first down?  That’s called grit. “I’m trying not to make a habit out of that,” he said. Oh, and right after the game he delivered a baby while simultaneously saving it and the mother from a burning building.
• Saints Offense – So they didn’t put up the numbers that Saints fans are accustomed too but they played a fairly balanced game and didn’t commit any crucial errors. They did drive the field and scored the clinching touchdown, so you really can’t complain.
• Sean Payton – Going for it three times on fourth down and not converting any of them wasn’t pretty. Also, the goal line play-calling was pretty questionable. “I’m worried about winning,” he said after the game. “You can keep track of fourth downs.” Touché, coach.
• Saints Fans – Who Dats will always be Who Dats but I was pretty disappointed with the turnout this week. Check that, I was disappointed with  their creativity. No more than six or seven ridiculously dressed people rather than the usual dozens.

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