NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints' most amazing and memorable touchdown reception of the season wasn't a diving catch by Marques Colston, a one-handed snare by Robert Meachem or a Superman plunge by Reggie Bush.
It's the reception the Saints get at the airport every time they have touched down after a road game.
Fans gather by the thousands -- the crowd growing with each victory its 10-0 team stockpiles -- lining the path back to downtown. Even for a city that cherishes its parades, this one has taken on jaw-dropping proportions.
"There's just so much excitement," said quarterback Drew Brees, a most-valuable-player candidate who has helped the Saints to their best start in franchise history. "If anybody deserves a winner, it's this city. Just such great, loyal fans, fans that have been through so many tough times -- not only in their personal lives and the city post-Katrina, but also as fans of the Saints. Lot more downs than ups."
Not this year, when so far the downs have been as scarce as those paper-bag-wearing boo birds who once populated the Superdome seats. Now, the team boasts the NFL's top-ranked offense and a reliable defense, making the Saints even more well-rounded than Indianapolis, the league's other undefeated team.
"It wouldn't surprise me if the Saints set whatever records there are," said New England Coach Bill Belichick, whose Patriots play at New Orleans tonight. "I can't think of too many teams -- I can't think of any really -- that are any more explosive than this team is. I've talked about the Rams, I've talked about the Chargers in the early '80s. But these guys can run with anybody."
Like most coaches, Belichick doesn't spare the praise when talking about an upcoming opponent. So to hear him heap it on the Saints isn't surprising. But it's worth noting that Brees' team is piling up the points and the yards at the same pace as the 2007 Patriots, the only team to finish a 16-game regular season undefeated.
In fact, the Saints have scored fractionally more points (36.9, compared with 36.8 for the '07 Patriots) and are less than 10 yards behind in average yards (411.2-420.5).
A perfect regular season isn't the ultimate goal, of course, and at the moment isn't even a topic the Saints care to entertain. They have their sights set higher: the first Super Bowl for a city that has played host to so many. The players even wear black T-shirts that read "SB44" in silver, with mantras on the back such as "Finish Strong" and "Smell Greatness."
