Return of the 'Aints

Dateline: September 19, 2005
What should've been the first home game for the New Orleans Saints turned into a showcase for the new-look Giants at the Meadowlands. After the Saints upset Carolina (who were in better form against New England this week), everyone wanted to jump on the "win one for the Gulf Coast" bandwagon. But as any New Orleans fan knows, this is the 'Aints were talking about here. They can be one of the most exciting and excrutiating teams to watch. Just go back 2 years to when they pulled off a last second TD after a series of laterals only to miss the game tying extra point. That's my 'Aints.

And last night against the NY G-men was no different. While the NFL did its part to raise money for victims of hurricane Katrina, the Saints failed to deliver in a rare Monday night appearance (staggered with the Redskins vs. Cowboys game on ESPN). They fell behind early after a costly fumble. Despite the inspired play of veteran WR Joe Horn (who scored the Saints' only TD), the Giants put an end to the Cinderella story. The Saints' inability to get into the end zone after recovering a punt that went off a Giants' player's leg as well as continued turnovers of their own were too much for the honorary home team to overcome. John Carney who famously missed the extra point I referred to earlier, then made the game winning kick last week, was one of two this week missing what should have been a chip shot for him.

But all is not lost for New Orleans. They are tied for 2nd in the NFC South with Atlanta, and their next opponents are the 0-2, Moss-less Minnesota Vikings.