The most underrated rivalry in sports is about to re-engage this weekend and true to form, the buzz leading up to it has been non-existent. Most of Louisiana is still recovering from the amazing road win by the LSU Tigers over Alabama, as well as the Saints’ home win the following day over divisional foe Tampa Bay. Last weekend we were spoiled with some big time football and it’s taken the wind out of the sails of this game so far. I’m calling for all fans to GET OVER IT, now, because this is the biggest game of the Saints’ season so far. Win at Atlanta, and the NFC South is all but gift wrapped. But this game goes far beyond the 6-3 division leader going on the road against the 5-3 runner up with the winner taking the division lead… It’s a rivalry that’s been bitter and laden with hate for 44 years.
When this game comes up Sunday…
don’t forget what Roddy White said about the Saints and New Orleans. You know… just in case you needed added incentive to root hard against them. Or maybe don’t forget that they stole Morten Andersen, Brett Maxie, Bobby Hebert and a slew of other from the Saints just to spite them. Or that they signed Joe Horn after the Saints let him go. Or that they signed Aaron Stecker merely to get insider information on the Saints for a week before the game. Or Deion Sanders, my least favorite player in NFL history, high stepping on the fleur de lis and mocking the Saints repeatedly. The wikipedia page actually does a good job of recounting the history so that’s definitely worth a look too.
I know the LSU win was great and all, but it’s time to move on people. This game is HUGE. It’s the Saints at the Falcons, and if you love the Saints and you love football, there is just no game on the calendar with more meaning in the regular season. None. If you know the history and you remember the games, you know it’s time to put anything that’s happen to this point in the season behind us and focus on the task at hand. This battle, once labelled the “Dixie Championship” is for bragging rights and southern pride. The stakes of these games were high when both teams battled to escape the cellar of the NFC West. Now, they’re battling for supremacy in the NFC South. As if the stakes could ever get any higher, somehow they have because both teams are now actually good.
So it’s time to get fired up, get excited about this game, and pull hard for the Saints to crush the Dirty Birds. Anything but just makes you an entirely too casual Saints fan. WHO DAT.
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