I told y’all last week I had nothing.

Nothing to say. Nothing to celebrate. And absolutely nothing good to say about watching the Atlanta Falcons come into our house, on the anniversary of one of the greatest nights in Saints history, and embarrass us 45–24.

Well, a week has passed. I’ve had time to cool off. I’ve had a few cigars. I’ve listened to the excuses, the explanations, and all the talk about getting back to basics.

And you know what?

I’m done listening.

This Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings come marching into the Superdome, and I don’t want another speech about pride, preparation, or learning from mistakes.

I want to see some damn football.

That Wasn’t Just Another Loss

I’ve been a Saints fan long enough to know the difference between losing a football game and getting your heart ripped out.

Last Monday was the second kind.

Twenty years after Steve Gleason blocked that punt and helped give New Orleans one of the most unforgettable nights this city has ever experienced, we watched the Falcons run all over our defense.

Five rushing touchdowns.

Five!

I don’t care how you dress that up in a press conference. That is unacceptable.

The Superdome was supposed to be rocking. The ghosts of 2006 were supposed to be smiling. Instead, Falcons fans had something to celebrate, and Saints fans were left wondering what happened to their football team.

You don’t erase that with a good week of practice.

You erase it by showing up on Sunday and playing like wearing that fleur-de-lis means something.

Minnesota Isn’t Coming Here to Make Us Feel Better

Now let’s talk about the Vikings.

They’re 4–0.

We’re 1–3.

And before somebody tells me the Saints have a chance because we’re playing at home, let me remind you that we’ve already lost two straight games in that building.

Minnesota has the NFL’s top scoring defense, allowing just 12.8 points per game. Meanwhile, our defense is dead last, giving up 32 points a game.

Read that again.

We’re giving up more than twice as many points as Minnesota.

The Saints are allowing nearly 148 rushing yards per game, ranking 30th in the league. Minnesota allows just 84.5.

And our offense? Believe it or not, we’re averaging 26.3 points per game.

That tells me something important.

This team has enough offensive talent to compete. But you can’t keep asking your offense to rescue a defense that can’t get off the field.

And against this Vikings defense, Tyler Shough isn’t going to have the luxury of standing back there all afternoon waiting for somebody to get open.

Minnesota brings pressure. Lots of it.

If our offensive line plays like it did against Atlanta, this could get ugly in a hurry.

Three Things I Want to See Sunday

First, somebody needs to remember how to tackle.

I don’t need a fancy defensive scheme. I don’t need somebody explaining gap assignments on television. I need eleven guys who can wrap up a running back and put him on the ground.

Second, protect Tyler Shough.

The kid has shown he can move the football. He’s thrown for over 1,100 yards through four games. Chris Olave is making plays. There are weapons on this offense.

But Shough can’t throw passes lying on his back.

And Alvin Kamara needs some room to run. Remember the last time Minnesota visited the Superdome? Christmas Day 2020. Kamara scored SIX rushing touchdowns.

Six!

I’m not asking for six this Sunday. I’d settle for a running game that makes the Vikings respect the possibility of a handoff.

Third, play four quarters.

Not one good opening drive. Not one impressive defensive series. Not twenty minutes of football followed by forty minutes of confusion.

Four quarters.

Because that’s what good teams do.

And that’s what we haven’t been doing.

Another Special Day in the Dome

There’s something else happening Sunday that makes this game even more important to me.

Drew Brees is being inducted into the Saints Ring of Honor at halftime, and he’ll receive his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring.

Now, I don’t know about y’all, but that man will always have a special place in my heart.

Drew didn’t just come to New Orleans and throw touchdowns. He helped bring this franchise, and this city, back to life.

He showed us what leadership looks like. What preparation looks like. What happens when everybody on a football team believes in the same thing.

He helped give us a Super Bowl.

And here’s the part that gets me.

Last week we celebrated the 2006 Domecoming and got embarrassed.

This week we’re honoring Drew Brees.

Are we really going to let another celebration of Saints history turn into another miserable afternoon?

I sure as hell hope not.

Because if there was ever a day for this team to remember what Saints football is supposed to look like, it’s Sunday.

I’m Not Giving Up. But I’m Not Making Excuses Either.

Some folks are already talking about next year.

Some are blaming the coaches. Others are blaming the players. Everybody’s got an opinion.

Well, here’s mine.

It’s October.

We’re four games into the season.

And while 1–3 is a lousy place to be, it’s not a death sentence.

But 1–4?

That’s a hole you don’t want to dig, especially with road games against the Giants and Steelers coming up next.

The Saints don’t need to become the best team in the NFL overnight.

They need to become a team that can tackle, protect its quarterback, establish some kind of running game, and stop beating itself.

Those are the basics.

And if you can’t do the basics, all the talent in the world isn’t going to save you.

Tony’s Prediction

Now, here’s where some of y’all are going to laugh.

I picked the Saints to beat Atlanta.

I believed the Domecoming anniversary would bring something special out of this team.

I was wrong.

Dead wrong.

So I’m not going to sit here this week and tell you the Saints are going to blow out an undefeated Minnesota team.

That would be foolish.

But I also refuse to believe the team we watched against Atlanta is the best these Saints can give us.

Minnesota has a tremendous defense. They’re undefeated for a reason. And they have every reason to believe they’re coming into New Orleans and leaving 5–0.

But the Superdome can still be a special place when the Saints give the fans something to believe in.

And with Drew Brees being honored, there won’t be any shortage of emotion in that building.

So I’m going to put my neck out one more time.

Tony’s Pick: Saints 23, Vikings 20.

Call me crazy.

Call me stubborn.

Call me a Saints fan who hasn’t learned his lesson.

I’ve been called worse.

But this prediction comes with a warning.

If the Saints come out Sunday and give us another performance like last Monday, I’m done making excuses for them.

Not done loving them.

Not done wearing my black and gold.

Not done yelling WHO DAT.

But done pretending everything is fine when it clearly isn’t.

Final Thoughts From the Westbank

I want every player wearing that Saints uniform to understand something.

When you walk onto that field Sunday, you’re not just representing a football team.

You’re representing a city that has been knocked down more times than anybody can count and somehow always finds a way to get back up.

You’re representing fans who have supported this franchise through decades of heartbreak.

And on Sunday, you’re playing in front of one of the greatest quarterbacks who ever wore that uniform.

So don’t tell us how much last week’s loss hurt.

Don’t tell us how hard you practiced.

Don’t tell us what you learned.

SHOW US.

Show us you can tackle.

Show us you can block.

Show us you can fight for sixty minutes.

Show us that the fleur-de-lis on your helmet still means something.

Because after what happened last week, words don’t mean a damn thing.

No more speeches. Show me.

WHO DAT!

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

Who Dat Nation, I’ve got to be honest — Domecoming was supposed to be a celebration, but the Saints flat-out failed New Orleans in this one.

The offensive line was disappointing from start to finish. Protection broke down, the run game never got rolling, and Shough was under pressure way too often. You can’t win in the NFL if your line is getting bullied like that, especially in front of the home crowd.

As bad as the line was, the defense was even worse. Bijan Robinson ran all over us like it was a college highlight reel. Missed tackles, blown assignments, and zero answers when the Falcons leaned on him in the second half. That’s not Saints football, and it’s not what Domecoming deserved.

This was supposed to be a night to honor the Dome, the fans, and the history of this team. Instead, the Saints looked flat and let the Falcons steal the moment. That’s the part that hurts the most — the team didn’t rise to the occasion.

But here’s the thing: the future isn’t all dark. The NFC South is still wide open, and one bad night doesn’t end the season. We’ve got time to regroup, fix the mistakes, and fight our way back. The Saints can still make noise in this division if they learn from this loss. They need to come back and get a big win against the Vikings at home next week though.

Final Thought: Domecoming was a disappointment, no doubt. But the season isn’t over. The Saints can bounce back — and Who Dat Nation will be there when they do.

Alright, Who Dat Nation.

Tony picked the Saints.

I picked them before the season started.

I stuck with them last week.

Monday morning I was talking about Steve Gleason, the Dome, twenty years of memories and how that building was going to erupt when they showed that blocked punt again.

And then the game started.

Falcons 45. Saints 24.

I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out what Tony is supposed to say about this one.

And for once…

I’ve got nothing.

Not because there’s nothing to talk about.

Because there’s almost too damn much.

Of All Nights…

That’s the part that gets me.

Twenty years after one of the greatest nights in the history of that building.

Steve Gleason was there.

Curtis Deloatch was there.

They led the Who Dat chant.

Irma Thomas sang the national anthem just like she did in 2006.

The Dome was ready.

The Who Dat Nation was ready.

And Atlanta came into our building and embarrassed us.

Not Carolina.

Not Tampa.

Atlanta.

On that night.

That’s what makes 45–24 hurt differently.

Three Plays

That’s how long it took.

Atlanta’s third offensive play.

Bijan Robinson.

59 yards. Touchdown.

Seven-nothing.

Before anybody had settled into their seat, Atlanta had punched us in the mouth.

Then it became 14–0.

At halftime?

24–7.

Think about that.

All week we talked about the emotion of 2006.

All week we talked about making the Dome shake again.

Atlanta didn’t care.

They walked into the middle of our celebration and took the air right out of the building.

205 Yards. Five Touchdowns.

Tony usually has questions after a loss.

Why didn’t we kick?

Why did we call that play?

Was that really a fumble?

Where was the ball control?

This week I’ve got a much simpler question:

How in the hell do you let your biggest rival run for FIVE touchdowns in your building?

Atlanta finished with 205 rushing yards.

Bijan Robinson: 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Brian Robinson: 62 yards and three touchdowns.

That’s five rushing touchdowns between two running backs.

At some point, forget schemes.

Forget analytics.

Forget whether you’re playing zone or man.

Somebody has to say:

You’re not running through us anymore.

That never happened.

And Don’t Tell Me the Score Made It Look Worse

No.

The score looked bad because the game was bad.

Atlanta had 420 yards.

New Orleans had 320.

Atlanta never trailed.

The Saints fell behind 14–0 and never got closer than seven.

There was no fourth-quarter heartbreak this time.

There was no controversial call that decided the game.

There was no two-point conversion that almost won it.

There was no if only…

Atlanta beat us.

Period.

I’m Not Putting This All on Shough

Tyler Shough finished:

30 of 48.
286 yards.
1 touchdown.
0 interceptions.

Was it a great night?

No.

Was he the reason we lost 45–24?

Tony doesn’t see it that way.

Chris Olave gave him another big game with 8 catches for 116 yards, including a 44-yarder.

Devaughn Vele caught the touchdown.

Alvin Kamara scored twice on the ground.

There were individual moments.

But this wasn’t an individual-player problem.

This was a team getting beat in its own building problem.

About Those Boos

I heard them.

Everybody heard them.

And apparently Shough did too.

You know what?

Good.

I’m not saying that because I want these guys to fail.

It’s the opposite.

Saints fans filled that building on a Monday night.

They celebrated Gleason.

They remembered 2006.

They showed up for their football team.

And when that football team didn’t show up for them, they let them know about it.

That’s part of playing in New Orleans.

We’ll love you.

We’ll defend you.

We’ll travel with you.

We’ll argue with anybody who comes after you.

But don’t expect us to smile through 45–24 against Atlanta.

Cam Said It Better Than Tony Can

Cam Jordan’s reaction after the game tells you everything you need to know:

“To lose like that… to them… gut punch… sorry New Orleans!”

Then came the part I really liked:

“24 hr rule is dead… WAKE The hell up! get better now.”

There it is.

Don’t spend 24 hours feeling sorry for yourself.

Don’t tell us to be patient.

Don’t tell us there were positives.

Wake the hell up.

Because this team is now 1–3.

Maybe That’s Why Tony Has Nothing

After Detroit, I saw fight.

After Baltimore, I saw progress.

After Las Vegas, I saw a team that had control of a football game and gave it away.

After Atlanta?

I don’t know what I saw.

That’s what bothers me.

Four weeks into this season, what exactly are the New Orleans Saints?

Because Monday night was supposed to tell us something.

Home.

Monday Night Football.

Atlanta.

Twenty-year Domecoming anniversary.

Your biggest rival standing across from you.

If there was ever a night when motivation shouldn’t have been a problem, that was it.

And Atlanta wanted it more.

That’s hard for Tony to swallow.

So Now What?

Minnesota comes to the Dome Sunday.

There isn’t a speech I want to hear this week.

I don’t need somebody telling me practice was good.

I don’t need somebody telling me everybody is staying positive.

I don’t need to hear that it’s a long season.

Show me.

Stop the run.

Protect the football.

Quit digging holes.

Play four quarters.

And for God’s sake, defend your home field.

Because 1–3 can still become something.

But not if what we watched Monday night becomes who this team is.

Tony Was Wrong

I picked the Saints.

I believed the Dome would matter.

I believed the emotion of the night would matter.

I believed this team would understand what Saints-Falcons meant Monday night.

I was wrong.

Completely wrong.

And this time I’m not asking whether the refs screwed us.

I’m not asking whether we should’ve kicked a field goal.

I’m asking something much bigger:

Who are these Saints?

Because after four games, Tony isn’t sure anymore.

Maybe you are.

So tell me.

Am I overreacting to one terrible night?

Was this just one of those games where everything went wrong?

Or did Monday night show us something about this Saints team that we need to start taking seriously?

And here’s the biggest question:

After watching Atlanta beat us 45–24 in our own Dome, what needs to change FIRST?

Defense?

Coaching?

Running game?

Attitude?

Something else?

Tony’s at a loss for words.

So this time, Who Dat Nation, you tell me what needs to be said.

— Tony from the Westbank

WHO DAT.

This Monday night, the Saints take on the Falcons in the Dome — and it’s not just another rivalry game. It’s the anniversary of one of the most legendary moments in Saints history: the blocked punt that shook the Dome back in 2006. Now here’s the thing — I wasn’t alive to see it. I’ve only watched the highlights, heard the stories, and seen how much it meant to the city. But even if I didn’t live it, I know how iconic it was. That play wasn’t just football; it was a symbol of hope and comeback for New Orleans.

Coming off a tough loss, we need to prove we can finish games. Tyler Shough has shown flashes, but consistency is key. meanwhile the falcons are coming off a major win against the packers. Their offense has weapons, but their defense can be exposed if we stay aggressive.

This game is personal. It’s the Falcons. It’s Monday Night Football. It’s the Dome on the anniversary of the blocked punt. The Saints have to show fight, and I think they will.

Final Score Prediction: Saints 31, Falcons 14.

Alright, Who Dat Nation.

I picked this one months ago.

Saints over Atlanta.

And after everything we’ve seen through the first three weeks, I’m not changing it now.

Monday night. Falcons. Saints. Caesars Superdome.

Both teams 1–2. First NFC South game of the season. Atlanta swept us last year. A Saints win would even the all-time regular-season series at 57–57.

That’s already enough to make this a big game.

But Monday night is about something more.

Twenty Years Ago, I Was There

September 25, 2006.

I’ve talked about that night before because it’s impossible for me to think about Saints-Falcons in the Dome without remembering it.

I was there.

New Orleans had been through hell. The Saints hadn’t played in the Superdome since Katrina. Then that building reopened on Monday Night Football against — of all teams — the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta lined up to punt early in the first quarter.

And then No. 37 came flying through.

Steve Gleason blocked it.

Curtis Deloatch recovered it in the end zone.

Touchdown Saints.

I’ve been to a lot of Saints games.

I’ve heard that Dome loud plenty of times.

But that moment was different.

It wasn’t just cheering.

It felt like an explosion.

For one moment, everything New Orleans had been through came pouring out of 70,000 people at the same time.

And twenty years later, we’re going to see it again Monday night.

They’re going to show that block on those giant screens.

They’re going to show Gleason.

They’re going to show that crowd from 2006 losing its damn mind.

And when they do?

That Dome is going to ERUPT.

I don’t care whether you were sitting there twenty years ago or weren’t even born yet.

You’re going to feel it.

And if I’m wearing a Saints uniform Monday night, I’m watching that replay and thinking one thing:

We aren’t losing to Atlanta in this building tonight.

Now Make Your Own Memory

That’s my challenge to this Saints team.

Honor 2006.

Celebrate Gleason.

Remember what that night meant to this city.

But then go make your own moment.

This team is 1–2. Atlanta is 1–2.

Nobody needs to explain what 1–3 would mean.

And nobody wearing black and gold needs an explanation of what beating Atlanta means.

The Raiders game is over.

Forget the turnovers.

Forget the controversial call.

Forget the fourth-quarter collapse.

You can’t change any of it.

But you damn sure can decide what happens next.

Tony Picked This One Months Ago

Before the season, I went through every game.

When I got to Atlanta in the Dome?

WIN.

I didn’t need much time to think about it then.

I don’t need much time now.

I’m sticking with it.

Monday night isn’t about what happened against Detroit, Baltimore or Las Vegas.

It’s Saints-Falcons.

It’s the Dome.

It’s Monday Night Football.

It’s the 20th anniversary of one of the greatest moments that building has ever witnessed.

And it’s an opportunity to get to 2–2, start NFC South play 1–0, and remind Atlanta what that building sounds like when the Who Dat Nation has something to scream about.

Twenty years ago, No. 37 came through that line and changed the feeling of an entire city with one blocked punt.

Monday night, when they roll that replay…

Stand up.

Get loud.

Let those Falcons hear what twenty years of that memory sounds like.

And then let’s make another one.

Tony picked the Saints months ago.

Tony’s sticking with the Saints.

Beat Atlanta.

WHO DAT!

— Tony from the Westbank

Who Dat Nation, I’ve got to be real with y’all — this one hurt. The Saints had chances against the Raiders, but the way we handled the fourth quarter left me shaking my head. What really stings is how the team looked in the fourth quarter. The Raiders kept pushing, and instead of fighting back, the Saints seemed to fold. The energy dropped, the defense got pushed around, and the offense couldn’t find answers. It was like the team gave up before the clock hit zero, and that’s not the Saints football we expect in the Dome. And while many will argue that the fumble call was the refs screwing us I think that it was a fair call and the real blame lies with the saints failing in the fourth quarter, I’ll always support this team, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it. The Saints had opportunities, and they let them slip away. The numbers will show some decent performances, but the eye test says we didn’t finish. Final thought: Kick the field goal. Play all four quarters. Don’t give up. That’s how you win in the NFL.

WHO DAT ⚜️

Alright, Who Dat Nation.

I’ve had a night to think about this one.

It didn’t help.

Raiders 35. Saints 27.

We’re 1–2. Las Vegas leaves New Orleans 3–0.

And the frustrating part isn’t that the Raiders came into our house and completely outplayed us.

They didn’t.

The Saints led 27–16 in the third quarter. They were moving the football. Tyler Shough had thrown four touchdown passes. Chris Olave went over 100 yards. The Dome was alive.

For a while, this looked like the game where everything started coming together.

Then we gave it away.

So Tony has some questions.

First Question: Why Not Kick the Field Goal?

This is the one that’s still bothering me.

The Saints had driven to the Raiders’ 29-yard line. On third-and-4, Shough was hit from behind while trying to throw. The ball came out and Las Vegas recovered. New Orleans Saints

And yes, we’re going to talk about whether that should have been a fumble.

But before we even get there, I’m asking something more basic:

Why were we putting ourselves in that position?

When you’ve got points available in a close football game, when do you take them?

When do you stop trying to win every decision on a spreadsheet and say:

Give me the damn points.

Daniel Carlson is your kicker.

You’re in field-goal range.

You’ve got the lead.

I’m old school enough to ask the question.

Why not kick it?

Maybe some of you think going for it was absolutely the right decision.

Fine.

Tell me why.

Because Tony is still trying to understand it.

And Yes… Another Fumble Call

Here we go again.

Shough gets hit while attempting to throw. The ball comes loose.

Fumble. Raiders football.

If you’re sitting there thinking you’ve seen something like this before, you have.

The Saints themselves noted that the play looked very similar to the Jared Goff play in Detroit that was ruled an incomplete pass. ESPN reported that the Saints again left a game confused about how the quarterback fumble rule was being applied. New Orleans Saints

Do I like it?

No.

Do I understand why Saints fans are pissed?

Absolutely.

But I’m not giving this team permission to hide behind the officials.

Because that wasn’t the only reason we lost.

Not even close.

Four Possessions. Four Turnovers.

Here’s the number that should make everybody sick.

Every Saints possession in the fourth quarter ended in a turnover.

Lost fumble.

Interception.

Lost fumble.

Lost fumble.

Four possessions. Four turnovers. New Orleans Saints

You aren’t beating many NFL teams doing that.

You sure aren’t beating an undefeated team.

And that’s where my second big question comes in.

Where Was the Ball Control?

We had this football game.

Not figuratively.

We had it.

New Orleans led 27–16 with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter.

From there, Las Vegas scored 19 unanswered points.

Final:

35–27. New Orleans Saints

What happened to protecting the football?

What happened to protecting the lead?

What happened to making the Raiders chase us?

Sometimes winning football isn’t complicated.

When you’ve got an 11-point second-half lead at home, you don’t need to become Superman.

Move the chains.

Run the football.

Protect your quarterback.

Protect the ball.

Take the points when they’re there.

Make the other team beat you.

Instead, we helped beat ourselves.

Don’t Put All of This on Shough

And before everybody starts beating up Tyler Shough, Tony isn’t joining that crowd.

Was the fourth quarter bad?

Absolutely.

But look at the whole game.

Shough finished 29 of 42 for 250 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. New Orleans Saints

Four touchdown passes.

That’s not why I’m walking away from this game discouraged about the quarterback.

Actually, I’m encouraged.

For most of the afternoon, I thought Shough looked pretty damn good.

The problem is that NFL games aren’t 45 minutes long.

And young quarterbacks have to learn something veterans already know:

Sometimes the biggest play is the one you don’t try to make.

Protect the football.

Live for the next down.

Take three points.

Let your defense work.

That’s part of becoming an NFL quarterback too.

Olave Keeps Doing His Job

Chris Olave:

9 catches.
107 yards.

No touchdown.

Didn’t matter.

He was productive again and continues to give Shough a legitimate No. 1 target. New Orleans Saints

And how about the tight ends?

Juwan Johnson caught two touchdowns.

Noah Fant caught two touchdowns.

Every one of Shough’s four touchdown passes went to a tight end. New Orleans Saints

There were plenty of good things happening offensively Sunday.

That’s what makes losing this one hurt even more.

Tony Isn’t Blaming the Refs

Were there calls I didn’t like?

Yep.

Do I think Saints fans have every right to question how that Shough fumble was handled compared with what we saw in Detroit?

Yep.

But Chase Young said something after the game that Tony agrees with.

The Saints can’t base their wins on what the officials decide. They have to play through it. New Orleans Saints

That’s football.

Bad call?

Get the ball back.

Questionable call?

Stop them.

You don’t like what the referee did?

Don’t turn it over on your next possession.

That’s how you answer it.

Here’s What Bothers Me Most

Detroit showed me this team could fight.

Baltimore showed me this team could finish.

Las Vegas showed me something else.

This team still doesn’t know how to protect a football game.

That’s different from not having talent.

And maybe that’s actually the encouraging part.

The Saints weren’t blown off their own field.

They weren’t hopelessly overmatched.

They were leading an undefeated team by 11 points in the second half.

Then they self-destructed.

That can be fixed.

But it has to be fixed.

Because eventually, saying we almost had them gets old.

So Tony Wants to Hear From YOU

I’ve given you my opinion all season.

Now I want yours.

Was Tony right or wrong?

Should the Saints have taken the field goal when they had the opportunity?

Was Shough’s play really a fumble — especially after what happened with Jared Goff in Week 1?

Was coaching too aggressive?

Did the Saints abandon ball control?

Or is Tony just being an old-school fan who needs to accept how football is played today?

Don’t just hit Like. Tell me.

If you think I’m right, tell me why.

If you think I’m full of it, tell me that too.

That’s what Who Dat Nation is supposed to be.

Different opinions.

Same team.

And after watching us turn a 27–16 lead into a 35–27 loss, I know we’ve all got something to say.

Let’s hear it, Who Dat Nation.

— Tony from the Westbank

WHO DAT!

Alright Who Dat Nation, it’s finally time for the home opener. The Saints are back in the Dome this Sunday, and we’re squaring off against the undefeated Raiders. They’re 2–0, we’re 1–1, and this game feels like a measuring stick for both teams. Kirk Cousins is steady — you know what you’re getting with him. But Tyler Shough? He’s been one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league through two weeks. The numbers back it up: big yardage, smart throws, and the kind of poise you want in a young QB. If Shough keeps that rhythm, the Raiders’ defense is going to have their hands full.

This one’s going to be close. The Raiders are legit, but the Dome energy is different. Shough makes just enough plays, the defense bends but doesn’t break, and the Saints walk out with a win.

Final Score Prediction: Saints 27, Raiders 24.

Alright, Who Dat Nation.

The first two weeks I picked against us.

Detroit?

Unfortunately, Tony was right.

Baltimore?

Tony was wrong — and I’ve never enjoyed being wrong so damn much.

So here we are.

Week 3.

The Raiders are coming to New Orleans 2–0. The Saints are 1–1. And for the first time this season, the boys are coming through that tunnel in the Dome.

I’ve made my pick.

And this time…

TONY’S TAKING THE SAINTS

There you go.

No “prove me wrong.”

No hedging.

No trying to take off the black-and-gold glasses.

Well… maybe they’re still sitting a little crooked on my face.

But I’ve seen enough through two games to believe New Orleans can win this football game.

Tony’s pick: Saints 27, Raiders 23.

And before we get into why, I’ve got to talk about something bigger than Sunday’s game.

Because this week I’ve been thinking about another night in that building.

A night I’ll never forget.

Tony Was There 20 Years Ago

September 25, 2006.

Twenty years ago this week.

If you were in that Dome that night, I don’t have to explain it to you.

You felt it.

And I was there.

The Saints hadn’t played a game in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. Our city had been through hell. People had lost homes. People had lost family. Neighborhoods were still trying to figure out what coming back even meant.

Then the Saints came home.

U2 and Green Day played before the game.

The Falcons got the ball.

They couldn’t move it.

Atlanta lined up to punt.

And then…

STEVE GLEASON.

Straight through the middle.

Blocked punt.

Curtis DeLoatch recovered it in the end zone.

TOUCHDOWN, NEW ORLEANS.

The Saints went on to beat Atlanta 23–3.

But those numbers don’t tell you what happened in that building.

I remember the noise.

I remember the feeling.

I remember looking around and realizing this wasn’t just people celebrating a blocked punt.

It felt like an entire city releasing something it had been holding inside for more than a year.

For a few hours, nobody was talking about insurance companies, FEMA trailers, blue roofs or what neighborhood was coming back.

We were Saints fans again.

We were home.

Twenty years later, I can still feel that moment.

And every time I walk into that Dome, some little piece of that night is still there.

That’s why Sunday’s home opener means a little more to Tony this week.

Now Let’s Talk About THESE Saints

Nostalgia isn’t beating Las Vegas.

The Raiders are 2–0 for a reason. They’re coming into New Orleans undefeated, and this isn’t some automatic home-opening victory we’re entitled to because the crowd is wearing black and gold.

But I’ve watched Tyler Shough these first two weeks.

And I’m starting to believe in this kid.

Against Detroit, he threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns and nearly completed an unbelievable comeback.

Against Baltimore, the numbers weren’t as flashy.

They were better where it mattered.

27 of 34.
252 yards.
One passing touchdown.
One rushing touchdown.
Zero interceptions.

And when New Orleans needed him in the fourth quarter?

He delivered.

Again.

Kellen Moore said after Baltimore that the game doesn’t seem too big for Shough. Through two weeks, we’ve seen why.

But Tyler Needs Some Damn Help

Here’s one thing I don’t want Sunday:

Shough running for his life.

Las Vegas can get after the quarterback, and the Saints cannot make a habit of asking their young quarterback to rescue them every fourth quarter.

Protect him.

Get the running game going.

Let Travis Etienne Jr. and that backfield take some pressure off him. Etienne dealt with a hamstring issue this week but practiced fully Friday and carries no game-status designation.

And then find No. 12.

Keep Feeding Olave

Chris Olave had 182 yards against Detroit.

Baltimore made stopping him a priority and he still caught eight balls for 86 yards and scored the touchdown that started that fourth-quarter comeback.

Las Vegas knows exactly where Shough wants to go.

I don’t care.

Find ways to get Olave the football.

But Baltimore also showed us something important.

If everybody concentrates on Olave, Shough is becoming comfortable finding somebody else.

That’s what this offense needs to become.

Not Shough-to-Olave or nothing.

Make defenses cover everybody.

Don’t Let 2–0 Scare You

Las Vegas is undefeated.

Good for them.

They’re also walking into our building.

The Raiders have Maxx Crosby coming after Shough, Brock Bowers creating problems at tight end and enough weapons that the Saints can’t afford one of those sleepy starts we’ve seen these first two weeks. The Raiders’ own preview identifies Crosby and Bowers among the matchup’s central players.

That’s probably my biggest concern Sunday.

STOP WAITING UNTIL THE FOURTH QUARTER.

Detroit taught us that this team won’t quit.

Baltimore taught us that this team can finish.

Now I want New Orleans to show us something else:

Start fast.

Let somebody else spend the afternoon trying to climb out of a hole.

And Let That Dome Be the Dome

The Saints haven’t played at home yet this season.

Sunday changes that.

I want Shough to experience what that building sounds like when the Saints give those people something to believe in.

I want the Raiders dealing with the noise.

I want false starts.

I want Crosby and that defense looking across the line and realizing the Saints aren’t the easy Sunday afternoon somebody might have circled before the season.

And I want the Who Dat Nation involved from the opening kick.

Because I’ve been inside that building when the crowd became part of the football game.

I know what it sounds like.

Twenty years ago, Steve Gleason blocked a punt and that Dome damn near exploded.

Nobody is asking these Saints to recreate September 25, 2006.

You couldn’t recreate it if you tried.

That night belonged to that city, that team and that moment in history. Gleason himself has reflected this week on how that one play became connected not just to his career, but to New Orleans’ recovery.

But Sunday’s team gets a chance to create its own memory.

Tony’s Pick

I’ve got the Saints.

SAINTS 27
RAIDERS 23

I want to see Shough continue growing.

I want Olave involved.

I want the offensive line protecting its quarterback.

I want the defense making Las Vegas earn every yard.

And most of all, I want to see whether the team that fought back in Detroit and finished the job in Baltimore can finally put together four quarters of football.

The Raiders are 2–0.

Let them come in undefeated.

They don’t have to leave that way.

Twenty years ago this week, I sat inside that Dome and watched a football game become something much bigger than football.

Sunday, I’ll be watching again.

Different players.

Different coaches.

Different Saints era.

Same Dome.

Same city.

Same Who Dat Nation.

Tony finally picked the Saints.

Now don’t make me regret it.

WHO DAT! ⚜️

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

Hey Who Dat Nation! My name’s Drew — I’m 16, born and raised a Saints fan, and I’m pumped to be joining WhoDatNation.com as a new contributor.

I grew up in the Dome, learned to hate the Falcons and Bucs early, and I follow the NFL like it’s my second language. Between fantasy football, Madden, and digging into stats, I see the game a little differently than the old-school fans.

Here’s my deal: I love the Saints, I want them to win every Sunday, and I’ll celebrate the big plays. But I’m not here to just hype blindly — if Shough lights it up, I’ll say it. If the defense gets pushed around, I’ll say that too. And if the numbers show a player is better than people think, I’ll point it out.

I’m part of Who Dat Nation — The Next Generation. Let’s ride this season together. WHO DAT! ⚜️