The REAL. BIG. Blog

The New Orleans Saints are set to meet the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl on Sunday.  I can’t wait to watch it, but I must say that I really don’t care which team comes out on top.  Two great teams, two great quarterbacks — it should be a lot of fun.

I’m sure that over the last week or so you’ve heard the Saints fans’ rallying cry:  “Who dat, who dat, who dat say gonna beat dem Saints,” which is most often shortened to just “Who dat.”  It’s fun, it’s catchy, and it’s great to see fans of New Orleans unified through it.

Grammatically, however, it’s a nightmare.  Thus, I would like to suggest that everyone abandon it and begin chanting this:  “Who is that?  Who is that?  Who, have they said, is going to beat those Saints?”

As this gains familiarity, I believe you’ll find that it has a great rhythm to it and, more importantly, that grammar teachers across America are much happier.

Only five active NFL franchises have not appeared in the Super Bowl. They are the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans. Any team on that list jump out at you? You’ve got two teams which, when put together, have fewer wins this season than any of the other three. You’ve got two teams whose chance to make the playoffs is comparable to winning the lottery.

And then you have the Saints, a team founded the year the first Super Bowl was played. For the first 20 years of the franchise they couldn’t muster a winning season. Then came a string of winning seasons each ending in a loss in the wild card game. Then back to a string of losing seasons until finally in 2000, the Saints won their first playoff game.  The Saints best season came in 2006, making it to the NFC championship game against the Bears: a remarkable achievement after spending 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, playing every game outside their beloved New Orleans, and going 3-13.

Today we’re looking at a team that’s 13-2. Sure, that home loss to the Cowboys was rough and losing to the Bucs in OT seems downright silly but we’re still looking at the No. 1 seed in the NFC thanks to an even greater series of missteps by the Vikings the past few weeks. So the question is simple – is this the year the Saints make it to the Super Bowl?  Every team they’re likely to play during the NFC playoffs has a higher ranked defense than they do. But the Saints rank first in total offense in the NFL. Is that enough to make it to the Super Bowl? Probably not. But one thing’s for sure; the Saints won’t lose in the wild card round – they’re good enough this year to get a bye and that makes for a very successful season.

By Apryl DeLancey

All year I’ve been picking the Oakland Raiders to upset someone…until this week!  They finally came through and beat the Denver Broncos.  I had a feeling it would be someone in their division, but I somehow missed this one.  Argh.  I just knew it!  They not only beat the Broncos…they beat them by three touchdowns!  Why did I miss this one!  It figures.

At least I am not a Detroit Lions fan.  I really feel for you folks!  Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely rooting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  It was nice to see Cadillac Williams back in action, however limited.  I just find it sad to be 0-11.  I find it especially sad to score 17 points and then stop completely as if they thought the game was over.  Oops.  Okay, they did score another field goal, but still…they had the game…they just needed to finish it!

I really thought the San Diego Chargers would pull out the “W” over the Indianapolis Colts.  NOT!  What the heck has happened to the Chargers?  And LaDainian Tomlinson…what the heck?  I am so sad to see him playing so badly.  Where is that monster stud player that cluttered the airwaves with endorsements and highlight reels?  What happened to his “better”?

Oh my gosh – and what was that final score of the New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers game?  Saints 51 and Packers 29?  Geez!  If you’re the betting type I’ll venture to guess the over/under wasn’t close to that.  Deuce McAllister got his 54th touchdown as a member of the Saints in the slaughter.  Good for you, Deuce.

I really only picked a few right this week – I had the Washington Redskins over the Seattle Seahawks.  That wasn’t too hard to get right.  As I mentioned, I picked the Bucs over the Lions.  That first part of the game really had me worried. I did pick the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, and New York Jets as well.  I just happened to go a little crazy on the upset picks.  I really didn’t have faith that the Tony Romo and Terrell Owens combo would get back in sync.  I was wrong.  I thought it would be a fun time to pick the San Francisco 49ers to win that one.  My bad.

It doesn’t really matter.  The fun thing about picking games is the wild ones.  I don’t bet any money on these picks and I’m not one of those that absolutely has to be right or I’ll have feelings of inadequacy and depression.  Nah, football should be fun.  I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings.  I know I’ll be making more wild picks!

Go underdogs!  That means you Oakland Raiders!

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post do not represent those of Fathead, LLC.    Although, on a personal note from a lifelong Lion’s fan…I must admit the big “0” in the W category is getting rather depressing!