There are two thoughts that can be applied to the game. (1) When the hype becomes larger than the game, its time to tune out the game. (2) It ain't over till its over. Sports writers and sport shows on radio and TV in New Orleans made up their minds long ago that the Saints would be in the Super Bowl and provided what they thought were stats to back up their position. Many confused Brees personal records with team accomplishments. Brees was put on a pedestal and there fore the team must be the best in the NFL. Some writers even believed it was actually the Saints destiny to be in the Super Bowl. (they even used the wrong word, DESTINY)
Being objective took a back seat to the real world of competition and the Saints were ready to take a fall. The fall came later and at the worse possible time but it started with the Dallas game because the Cowboys knew how to defense the Saint's offense and the Saints point production fell the balance of the regular season and in the playoffs. Through the first 11games the Saints averaged 37 points per game. In three games with Dallas, and Carolina (2) they averaged 15 points per game and with the Eagles and Rams in the two playoff games they averaged 21-1/2 points per game. Opponents who know how to play good defense change the stats.
Sports writers convinced themselves long ago the Saints belonged in the Super Bowl and that they were the best team in the NFL. It was apple polishing at its worse level and no objective thought was given to the real "stats" they could not concern themselves with. Their description of the Saints offense as being prolific does not square with the fact that the Saints beat only 5 teams with a winning record. In other words the Saints beat a lot of bad teams that were poorly coached on defense. But when the Saints played Dallas and Carolina, two teams who knew how to play defense, the Saints offense was just an average offense.
And the stage was set that the Saints offense would be just an average offense in the playoffs as they scored only 20 points against the Eagles and 23 points against the Rams. That was a far cry from their average of 37 points in those first 11 games. The home field advantage and the crowd noise makes for good copy but both the Rams and the Patriots won on the road.
Those who used the so called "no call" as the excuse why the Saints lost the ball game is pure sour grapes. The Saints lost the game because they failed to make the plays on several occasions when they had a chance to open a big lead. Payton also erred near the end of regular time when he called for two passes instead of a run to keep the clock moving. The rams were left with enough time on the clock to score and tie the game and send the game into overtime. And Brees interception and turnover in overtime gave the Rams good field position and they took advantage of it and kicked the winning field goal.
There were three no calls that the Saints and sports writers don't seem to want to talk about because they should have been called against the Saints. replays during the game showed that the Saints should have been flagged for two face mask violations and one holding violation on a Ram receiver. All three took place on 3rd down so the Rams had to punt. If the calls were made the Rams would have had 3 first downs and their drives would have been kept alive. So when the NFL examine the "no call" the Saints are crying about they should also examine all the other "no calls" and then make their comments..
The bottom line to the Saints season tells the story of a news media bent on hype and clichés instead of objective analysis and a willingness on the part of the news media to over blow the accomplishments of the Saints and to apple polish personal records of some Saints players. One of the news papers was about Sean vs. Sean, the experience coach vs. the least experience coach. Not really a good story but it keeps the hype going.
The sports writers and sports show hosts were so wrong about their predictions it gives this writer the feeling that is why they have been blaming the Saints defeat on the "no call." They are looking for vindication But the Saints elimination was easy to understand and simple. They lost because the Rams were better than the Saints in Sunday's game on offense nd defense. Personal records would play no part and the great Saints offense that was predicted to blow out the Rams was a no show. The Rams offered the Saints competition, something sports writers lost track of.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
