Everyone watching the New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday agreed on one thing: something is brewing in New Orleans. This is not the same team we have seen over the past three seasons.
But what was it, exactly? What did the overwhelming performance against Dallas mean for New Orleans?
It meant quite a lot.
The “it was just the Panthers” argument was put to bed. Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak has taken the league’s most stagnant offense to the pinnacle of NFL offensive performance. Dennis Allen’s defense, though not perfect, stood through the storm of a talented Cowboy offense that was led by the league’s most expensive quarterback.
But the victory on Sunday was not only thanks to veterans like Alvin Kamara and Demario Davis playing well. It was a combination of veteran experience paired with innovative play calling and young playmakers dominating a (arguable) Super Bowl contender.
I don’t believe that Sunday was a “We’re back” moment, but rather, it was a “We’re here” moment. It was the beginning of a new era that has been building since March 14, 2021.
The past two weeks have been just what Saints fans knew their team was capable of. The offense, one composed of veterans Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara, and young receiver stars Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, has accounted for 91 points and 811 yards of total offense.
The New Orleans defense has allowed 29 points this season and forced five turnovers. Young corners Alontae Taylor, Paulson Adebo, and Kool-Aid McKinstry have practically shut down both the Panthers and Cowboys.
One of the reasons why the 2021-2023 seasons were so frustrating is because Saints’ fans became accustomed to winning. From 2017-2020, Drew Brees and Sean Payton dominated the NFC South, compiled a 49-15 overall regular season record (77% wins), and three playoff victories.
Shortly afterward, that dominance vanished and never really returned.
It’s only been two weeks, and I am trying not to overreact, but the dominance we were accustomed to has been present over the last two weeks. But it’s not back solely because of players from the 2017-2020 golden era, it’s also because of new faces, both young and old, creating a new identity for this team. Those few years in the past were a last-ditch effort from Brees and Payton, and although pieces of that team remain, this team is developing an entirely new identity.
Young players like Chris Olave, Alontae Taylor, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Taliese Fuaga are giving this team long-term hope, something that was a distant flame just a few months ago.
Therefore, this is not a “Rebirth” or a “Comeback.” This is a new era of New Orleans football. Will this era create a Super Bowl-contending team? It’s far too soon to tell. But it’s certainly the best it has been since the final days of Brees and company.
Source : CanalStreetChronicles