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! ⚜️

Alright, Who Dat Nation, Tony’s got some news.

Starting this week, you’re going to start hearing from somebody new around here — Drew.

Drew is 16, grew up loving the Saints, going to the Dome, and most importantly, already understands two of life’s basic rules:

Hate the Falcons. Hate the Bucs.

Kid’s off to a good start.

But Drew sees football differently than an old guy sitting around with a cigar and a newspaper. He’s looking at stats on the computer, running his fantasy team, playing way too much Madden, and watching this Saints team through the eyes of the next generation of Who Dats.

And that’s exactly why I want him here.

He’s going to support our Saints, but I told him one thing:

Don’t blow smoke. If they’re good, say they’re good. If they stink, say they stink. Call it like you see it.

Now, are Drew and Tony always going to agree?

Absolutely not.

And I have a feeling that might be half the fun.

So give the kid a chance. Give him hell when you disagree with him. And remember — some of us old Who Dats aren’t going to be around forever.

Somebody has to keep hating Atlanta.

Welcome to Who Dat Nation, Drew.

The Next Generation has arrived.

— Tony from the Westbank

WHO DAT! ⚜️

Well, Who Dat Nation…

Tony was wrong.

I picked Baltimore.

I told these Saints to prove me wrong.

They did.

And I couldn’t be happier about it.

The New Orleans Saints walked into Baltimore, fell behind again, stared at another fourth-quarter deficit and this time didn’t leave us talking about how close they came.

This time they finished the damn job.

Saints 24. Ravens 17.

We’re 1–1.

And maybe — just maybe — we’re starting to learn something about this football team.

Here We Go Again…

I’m sitting there watching Baltimore go up 7–0.

Then 14–3.

Halftime comes and we’re down 14–6.

I’m thinking, Boys, we’ve seen this movie already.

Last week in Detroit, New Orleans dug itself a 21-point hole and somehow fought all the way back before losing 31–30 in overtime.

I loved the fight.

I hated the ending.

So when Baltimore stretched its lead to 17–9, I wasn’t interested in another story about how these young Saints never quit.

At some point, you’ve got to win one.

And that’s exactly what they did.

Tyler Shough Did It Again

Last week Shough threw for 410 yards and led that crazy comeback in Detroit.

This week?

The numbers weren’t as flashy.

They were better.

27 of 34.
252 yards.
One passing touchdown.
No interceptions.

And when the Saints absolutely had to have a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Shough didn’t throw it.

He took it himself.

Fourth down. One yard. Game on the line.

Quarterback sneak.

Touchdown.

New Orleans finally had the lead, 23–17, with 1:28 remaining. The extra point made it 24–17.

That’s the difference between last week and this week.

Against Detroit, Shough showed me he could fight back.

Against Baltimore, he showed me he could finish.

And Don’t Forget Olave

Remember what we talked about before the game?

Baltimore knew Chris Olave was the guy they had to stop.

Well…

8 catches.
86 yards.
1 touchdown.

And that touchdown couldn’t have come at a better time.

With New Orleans trailing 17–9 in the fourth quarter, Shough found Olave for a 21-yard touchdown.

Then the Saints went for two.

Travis Etienne Jr. got it.

17–17.

All of a sudden, Baltimore had a football game on its hands.

Again.

Fifteen to Nothing

Here’s my favorite number from this entire game:

15–0.

That’s what New Orleans did to Baltimore in the fourth quarter.

The Saints entered the final quarter down 17–9.

They left Baltimore winners, 24–17.

That’s not garbage-time scoring.

That’s not making a bad final score look respectable.

That’s taking over a football game when it matters most.

And after what happened in Detroit, that means something to me.

Because now we’ve seen this team get punched twice.

They got back up twice.

The difference is that this time, they walked away with the win.

Zero

Here’s another number I love:

0.

That’s how many turnovers the Saints had.

Last week against Detroit, New Orleans turned it over three times.

This week?

Shough didn’t throw an interception.

The Saints didn’t lose a fumble.

Zero turnovers.

Amazing how much easier winning gets when you don’t hand the other team the football.

And Then Blackmon Shut the Door

Of course Baltimore wasn’t going away quietly.

Lamar Jackson got the football back with 1:28 remaining and a chance to tie the game.

And every Saints fan watching knew exactly what we were thinking:

Please don’t do this to us.

Baltimore started moving.

Then, with 20 seconds left, Lamar went deep.

Julian Blackmon picked it off.

Ballgame.

No overtime.

No controversial ending.

No sitting around wondering what might have happened.

Shough took a knee.

Saints win.

Maybe Tony Needs to Keep Picking Against Them

Before the season, I had the Saints losing the first two games.

Detroit?

Tony was right.

Barely.

Baltimore?

Tony was wrong.

Beautifully, wonderfully wrong.

And after watching these first two weeks, I know one thing:

This team has more fight than I gave them credit for.

I’m not ready to start planning a parade down Poydras Street after one win.

We’ve still got problems.

We’ve still got to figure out how to start games better.

We can’t spend every Sunday waiting until the fourth quarter to become the football team we want to be.

But there’s something happening here.

Last week they were down 21–0 and refused to quit.

This week they were down eight in the fourth quarter and didn’t just fight back.

They won.

That’s progress.

So Tony Will Say It

I picked Baltimore.

I was wrong.

The Saints proved me wrong.

And Who Dat Nation, I’ll gladly take that L.

Because the one that matters belongs in the Saints’ win column.

1–1.

Now we’re coming home.

The Las Vegas Raiders are coming to New Orleans next Sunday.

And after what I’ve watched these last two weeks?

Maybe Tony better be a little more careful with that Week 3 prediction.

Then again…

If picking against them is what it takes to get this team going, I might have found my job for the rest of the season.

WHO DAT! ⚜️