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Frankly, I find it hard to do any work between recovering from my “reporting” after the game, reliving the Hartley field goal via fan videos on You Tube, and wonderful messages online.

Ah yes, Monday has been a day to enjoy and live in the moment. A moment that had adults crying, releasing 43 years of frustration for many, for others it was just the culmination of being a part of something magical.

When you look at the stats, the Vikings were the better team, outgaining the Saints by 218 yards, and picked up 31 first downs to the Saints 31 to 15. In all honesty, the Saints 31-28 win was destiny. Minnesota turning the ball over five times when they had done so just 18 times all season. A game that had to be decided in overtime by a kick heard around the bayou.

It’s still surreal to say it, hear it, much less type it. The Saints are going to the Super Bowl.

A day after the historic win, the Saints were excited, yet were quick to say that there was still work to be done. “We know that we have a huge challenge up for us, with Peyton Manning and those guys. They’ve been doing a great job with comeback victories, and putting games away. So we know we have a huge challenge up for us,” said Saints cornerback Tracey Porter a day after his game changing interception.

The game in two weeks indeed will be analyzed, talked about, and hyped in the coming days, in the time being it was about putting into words what happened on Sunday.

“I think having been in this game before and coached in this game, I think this is the goal.  We set it yesterday.  We were excited about the win yesterday.  What it did was it gives us an opportunity to play in this next game, which when you get into coaching or playing, your goal is to someday win a Super Bowl championship, said Saints head coach Sean Payton Monday. “I think the challenge is winning a championship, and understanding that we’re playing a great Indianapolis team.  It’s been a long time since you look at the Super Bowl and here sit the two No. 1 seeds.  The two teams that were unbeaten for 90% of the season until the end, here they are with an opportunity to play for the championship, so that’s exciting.”

The Saints earned their ticket to Super Bowl 44 in Miami by being resilient and never giving up, despite the many times where it seemed as if the Vikings couldn’t be stop. The difference however was taking care of the football.

“It was a game that went back and forth with momentum swings.  It had a lot of effort by both teams.  You tip your hat to Minnesota.  They played lights out with a lot of heart.  The turnovers ended up being a big stat in this game.  Without that swing in turnovers, we probably don’t come up on the winning end of this game.  The turnover at the second quarter right before halftime was significant.  Certainly the turnover at the end of the game prior to overtime was significant.  And then we made enough plays in overtime to win the game.  Pierre Thomas’ kick return was big, for him to jump in that role, which is normally been where Courtney’s played, and get us good field position.  And we make just enough plays to give our kicker a chance to win the game and he does.  All of that ended up being pretty special.”

So after 43 seasons, the Saints are finally in the big game. In their way, a native New Orleanian who’s being talked about as the greatest to ever play his position, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Go figure. A local who captured his first championship four season ago down in Miami, will either be apart of a game that gives the Saints their long awaited championship, or keeps his home town team from winning one.

The task is daunting. Manning led Indianapolis to a 30-17 win over the New York jets with a typical performance. 26 of 39 for 377 yards and three touchdowns to go with zero interceptions.

“Peyton does such a good job at the line of scrimmage, really taking advantage of the whole time allotted and putting his offense into a variety of different plays.  He does a great job with the snap count.  He’s got a great grasp of the offense,” said Payton of Manning’s ability to dissect defenses.  “You see the improvement throughout the course of the year that they’ve grown with young players at the receiver position,  obviously, a veteran offensive line, a veteran player in Dallas Clarke, and guys like Reggie Wayne.  He’s got a great grasp as to what he’s seen.  And I think throughout the course of the game that becomes in itself a challenge. As to his ability to really in his experience to direct traffic and put them in the best place possible, I think he does that better than anyone. ”

 WHERE’S BELL?

Have you wondered where is Saints running back Mike Bell lately? Bell hasn’t been listed on the injury report this post season, but in the team’s two games he has a total of six runs. Bell had zero touches against Minnesota, and had just six carries for 11 yards. What’s the deal?

“Just the way these games unfolded.  Certainly that wouldn’t ‑‑ I don’t know that I’d read anything into that other than just the way we were in a lot more nickel two weeks ago against Arizona with the injury to (Dominique-Rodgers) Cromartie and what we were wanting to do.  They were banged up in the secondary.  But he’ll have his touches and his opportunities certainly this week in practice and in the game next week,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said on Monday, adding that he contemplated on using Bell on the key 4^th and 1 in overtime, but felt it wasn’t smart to make that play Bell’s carry of the day.

WORK WEEK

The Saints, who spent the day lifting and running, will enjoy Tuesday and Wednesday off. Thursday the Black and Gold return to practice, and will do so through Saturday. On Monday the team will depart for Miami to meet up with those Saints that will leave Sunday morning to be introduced at Sunday’s Pro Bowl game.

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Garret Hartely split the uprights on a 40-yard field goal to win the game 31-28, sending the Saints into the Super Bowl. Minnesota 

Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre threw a crucial interception at the end of rugulation deep in Saints territory. The Vikings would have had about a 55 yard field goal if they hadn’t gained a yard but the turnover killed any chances at a shot for a win.

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The Saints season ending three game losing streak is in the rear view mirror thanks to their 45-14 win over Arizona in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. Standing in the way however of the team’s first ever trip to the big game, you might of heard of him, Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings.

A team with a good offense that can pass and run the football. “They’re probably going to try and establish the run against us early. Open it up with a couple play action passes, try to go deep on us,” says Saints defensive end Will Smith. “Ultimately the things that we need to do is, stop the run early and get after Favre.”

It’s also a team that has a solid defense, just ask Dallas. Last week the Vikings forced three turnover, had six sacks, and created 13 negative yardage plays. “These guys have one the best defensive fronts if not the best in the league. They have some elite pass rushers. They’ve really been able to get after the quarterback,” says Saints quarterback Drew Brees. “They’ve been very disruptive in the run game as well. I mean just all around it really starts up front. They fly around. They make a lot of tackles.”

Sunday will also be a bit of a reunion for one Saints player. Safety Darren Sharper wore the Purple and Gold for four season in Minnesota. “Facing your old foes is just like going in the backyard, you playing against someone that you know or are familiar with, it’s always going to be a little extra motivation because you want to beat him because you know the guy lives right across from you,” says Sharper. “That will be the extra motivation right there.”

BUMPS AND BRUISES

Friday’s injury report for the New Orleans Saints listed six players.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey did not practice once again, making it a full week of practices missed. Shockey has been sidelines this week due to a knee injury sustained against Arizona last week. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins also was held out as he continues to rehab a hamstring injury. Both players are listed as questionable for Sunday’s NFC Championship game.

Four players were listed as probable for the game, receiver Robert Meachem (ankle), safety Darren Sharper (knee), center Jonathan Goodwin (knee), and defensive end Bobby McCray (back). Meachem and Sharper both did not practice on Wednesday but worked on a limited basis Thursday and Friday.

The Saints unquestionably are a more dangerous team if Meachem and Shockey can play Sunday, but if not others will have to step up. “If we have all the guys out there it definitely helps this offense click and if there’s somebody that can’t go, there’s somebody that can step in and make those plays too,” says receiver Lance Moore. “I think that coach Payton does a great job of putting people in the right place at the right time.”

HOW I SEE IT

It’s a heck of a matchup. The Saints and Vikings have battled all season to have the best record in the NFC. Both teams have playmakers on both sides of the ball, and quarterbacks that are In the elite category of the NFL.

This game will come down to execution. Minnesota won’t want Drew Brees and the Saints offense to touch the football anymore then they have to, they’ve also likely seen plenty of video of opposing running backs running through the Saints run defense. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson had 32 yards last year against the Saints and this week he spoke about the disappointment he felt afterwards. You can bet he’ll look to have a better performance this week. Stopping him will be key.

“Even if he gets stuffed ten times, just waiting for that one big run out of him, and he has the ability to do that,” says Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. “I think we definitely have to be technique sound, the whole game, the whole sixty minutes because you get that guy any kind of room and he’ll bust a big one on you.”

Offensively, the Saints need to run the football, establish something on the ground to attack a banged up defensive line that plays very aggressive. The Saints passing attack is deadly, and with a running game aiding the effort, the passing game becomes lethal.

“I think we’re going to be able to mix it up. That’s what you have to do against a defensive front that has the kind of players that they have,” says Saints receiver Marques Colston. “I think it’s just going to be trying to keep them off balance off balance and get them running.”

I think a key factor will be the Who Dats. Fans can, and I believe will make a difference in the game Sunday. “Momentum plays a huge factor, but that’s only if we play well,” says tight end Jeremy Shockey. “They expect big things from this team and we expect big things from those guys in the dome. Make as much noise as possible, getting as loud and as hostile, fist fights, bring everything it doesn’t matter do it all. We need it all this week because we’re treating this game like the Super Bowl.”

I think the game is a close one and not as high scoring as many may think. I see it 24-20 Saints in the most historic win in franchise History.

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Tight end Jeremy Shockey did not practice once again, making it a full week of practices missed. Shockey has been sidelines this week due to a knee injury sustained against Arizona last week. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins also was held out as he continues to rehab a hamstring injury. Both players are listed as questionable for Sunday’s NFC Championship game.

Four players were listed as probable for the game, receiver Robert Meachem (ankle), safety Darren Sharper (knee), center Jonathan Goodwin (knee), and Bobby McCray (back). Meachem and Sharper both did not practice on Wednesday but worked on a limited basis Thursday and Friday.

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With the Conference trophy present in a made for the post season media room, head coach Sean Payton spoke about his team’s readiness for the big matchup.

First up was the injuries. Four Saints did not participate in the workout on Wednesday. Tight End Jeremy Shockey (knee), receiver Robert Meachem (ankle), safety Darren Sharper (knee), and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring). The team officially said that Sharper did not do the team portions of the practice. Throughout the season, Payton has sat Sharper a day out of the work week at times to rest lingering knee soreness.

The team signed receiver Adrian Arrington from the practice squad to the active roster, following Deuce McAllister being moved to the reserved injured / retired list. Former LSU DT Marlon Favorite replaced Arrington on the practice squad roster.

“He was feeling better today.  He was out there for walk through, and we’ll see where he is as the week progresses,” Payton said of Meachem’s injury and chances of playing Sunday. “But I don’t think it’s real significant.  But then again, it’s something that he’ll get treatment on and we’ll continue to rehab throughout the week.”

As for Shockey, who caught a touchdown pass against the Cardinals last week? “I think today was the day we didn’t practice him.  I think it’s good.  We’ll continue to update you like we normally do with injuries.  We really don’t get into predicting what guys are going to be like toward the end of the week.  So with the nature of the injury, the news is good.”

“It’s something I’ve been working hard for all year, just feels good to have the opportunity to be able to maybe contribute. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play or dress this game, but just the possibility of dressing feels good,” said Arrington Wednesday at the chance of maybe seeing action this week.

A TOUGH BATTLE AHEAD

While there were numerous questions about the team’s relationship with the city, the fan base and importance of being a part of the Katrina rebuilding process, there were also football questions. After all, come Sunday evening, that will be the only thing that matters.

Minnesota was in neck and neck with the Saints for a reason most of the season. They are a well balanced team. ““I think just from a defensive standpoint this is a team that has an outstanding front.  They’re physical, they have great speed.  They play with confidence,” Payton said on Wednesday after practice. “When you look really at the game last week and how they played against Dallas, a team that everyone saw how good the Cowboys were playing, and to see them win in that fashion was very impressive.  “Defensively against their offense there are a number of weapons.  Sidney Rice is someone who has progressed and is having a great season.  Starting with the running back Adrian Peterson and Brett and Percy Harvin.  I think there are going to be plays made and you have to eliminate the big plays or try to as best you can.  But they do a great job and that is the reason they’re playing in a game like this.”

The Vikings defense produced six sacks, three turnovers and 13 negative yardage plays against hot Dallas Cowboys offense. “These guys have one of the best defensive fronts if not the best in the league.  They have some elite pass rushers.  They’ve been able to get after the quarterback.  Been very disruptive in the run game as well, just all around,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said Wednesday. “ It really starts up front, and the rest of the guys, the linebackers and DB’s compliment them very well.  They fly around.  They make a lot of tackles.  They’ve been able to get a lot of balls out, fumbles, balls on the ground.  They just do a good job.  You can tell they’re well coached.”

On the offensive side of things, the addition of Brett Favre at quarterback, took a Vikings team that made the playoffs last season, to a team competing for a Super Bowl Championship. Add the already known force that is running back Adrian Peterson and the Vikings have a serious one-two punch.

“He kind of is the heart and soul of the offense, but I don’t think you can overlook Peterson at all. He’s the workhorse,” says Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. “I think they have two very different roles in the offense, but I think that they are equally as important in the offense, and they allow each other to be good.”

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Last Friday the Saints resigned the back to be an honorary captain and lead the team onto the field.

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Minnesota dispatched the Cowboys in impressive fashion Sunday afternoon 34-3. The Vikings defense punished Dallas quarterback Tony Romo all afternoon, sacking him six times.  Minnesota forced three Cowboys turnovers and the defense produced 13 negative yardage plays against the Dallas offense.

Brett Favre on the other hand had a good game. The Vikings quarterback threw four touchdown passes on the day, three of them to Sidney Rice. Favre connected with Rice on scoring tosses of 47, 16, and 45 yards.

Minnesota fined the season as the NFC’s second seed.

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The chant started the day he got drafted, and continued seemingly every time Reggie Bush stepped onto the field for the Saints. Some of those times the chants preceded or followed something that only Reggie can do (think the Minnesota game where Bush returned a pair of punts for touchdowns).

Reggie. Reggie. Reggie.

Mainly the chant has traditionally been done as sort of a greeting  Saints fans do when Bush lines up to receive punts.

Saturday evening in the Louisiana Superdome, the Reggie chant became something much, much more as 70 thousand plus Who Dats showered the player with praise, appreciation, and adoration.

The Saints as a whole erased the seeds of doubt that had been growing by thoroughly hammering the Arizona Cardinals 45-14. New Orleans now advances to the NFC Championship game for only the second time in franchise history, and will host it for the first time in team history next Sunday at 5:40 pm inside the Superdome.

Bush set the tone for the game by play arguably his best game as a professional. In fact at times Saturday, it seemed as if you were watching old USC highlights, as Bush ran through, around, bounced off of, and then simply out ran Cardinals defenders.

Led onto the field by running back Deuce McAllister, the team’s all time leading rusher handed a black bat that had “bring the wood” inscribed on it to Bush. The Heisman winner did just that setting the tone for the team early with tough runs that brought the crowd to their feet, especially on a 46 yard run where he bounced of a tackler than accelerated past the Cardinals defense for a touchdown. A 83- yard punt return where Bush wasn’t even touched put a close on a memorable performance. Bush had 217 all-purpose yards and joined Charlie Trippi (1947 NFL Championship) as the only players in postseason history with rushing and punt return TDs in the same game.

The Saints offense found the “on” switch that’s for sure putting up 418 yards. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 247 yards, going 23 of 32, to go with three touchdowns. Tight end Jeremy Shockey, dinged up on the play mind you, caught a 17 yard strike to make it 14-7 Saints. Receiver Devery Henderson caught a 44 yard pass for a touchdown on a play that started out as a flea-flicker to make it 28-14 at the time. A few minutes later receiver Marques Colston caught a 2 yard touchdown pass to make 35-14 at the half.

The 21 points scored by New Orleans in the first quarter was the most it has scored in any postseason quarter.

Let’s also give credit to the Saints defense. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was never comfortable in the game. Warner, who was dinged up towards the end of the second quarter, was 17 of 26 for 205 yards to with an interception and zero touchdowns. Tim Hightower’s opening play, 87-yard touchdown run, was the highlight of the day for the Cardinals offense. The Saints defense held Arizona, other than that play, to just 14 yards on the ground.

Safety Darren Sharper also had a fumble recovery thanks to a Randall Gay strip. Defensive end Will Smith had an interception for the second Arizona turnover of the day.

The impressive win has the team four quarters away from their first ever Super Bowl. Saints fans now await the winner of Sunday’s matchup between the Cowboys and Vikings in Minnesota.

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I’ve been very critical of the organization for not doing enough to recognize past players that have earned the respect of their peers and admiration of fans. The decision to have Deuce McAllister involved in Saturday’s playoff game is a classy move by the organization.

McAllister who played for the Saint from 2001 through 2008, was originally scheduled to serve as an honorary team captain to help pump up the crowd and team. Devensive tackle Rodney Leisle’s move to the injured reserve list Friday due to an injury, opened up a roster spot, and General Manager Mickey Loomis thought it’d be a good idea to sign McAllister to the roster to make him officially apart of the team.

During the special 2006 season, McAllister was a huge reason the Saints advanced to the NFC Championship game. In the Divisional game against Philadelphia, McAllister rushed for 143 yards and touchdown in a game many fans still talk about to this day. For the season that year, McAllister finished with 1,0057 yards, and was the last Saints rusher to go over 1,000 yards.

For his career, McAllister has rushed for 6,096 yards, the most by any Saints running back. He also holds the team records for total touchdowns with 55, and rushing touchdowns with 49.

The Saints drafted McAllister in the first round out of Ole Miss in 2001.  

Despite numerous early reports that McAllister would play Saturday in the playoff game, the running back will not. Regardless the amount of phone calls to local shows, emails, and online activity, there’s clearly still a lot of love for McAllister from Saints fans.

There is no doubt the dome will be electric Saturday afternoon when the team is led out of the tunnel by number 26.

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