James Varney

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton released the team’s final injury report Wednesday prior to the Thanksgiving Day game against the Cowboys, but cautioned the report in some cases was more a projection than a firm indicator because of the unusually short practice week.

Running back Reggie Bush, whose reappearance on the field since cracking his fibula against San Francisco in week two, was listed as limited and questionable for Thursday’s game. Bush said he feels good but declined to make any predictions on whether he would play against the Cowboys. He felt ready to play against the Seahawks last Sunday, he said, and was scratched.

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Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

Jermon Bushrod knew the questions would be coming Tuesday.

In fact, the New Orleans Saints left tackle said he’d been anticipating them ever since he first learned that the Dallas Cowboys would be on the 2010 schedule.

He knew he’d have to rehash his most forgettable night as a pro – when he allowed two sacks and several more quarterback hurries against the Cowboys’ perennial Pro Bowl pass rusher, DeMarcus Ware, in a 24-17 loss in the Superdome last December.

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Lauren Wilbert List, NOLA.com Community Producer

It’s another indication to the New Orleans Saints the the Who Dat Nation that we’ve made it. The team will play the Dallas Cowboys on one of the most premier game day slots in America – Thanksgiving Day.

For some Southern Louisiana families – who usually eat Thanksgiving meals in the late afternoon – the 3:15 p.m. game fits in perfectly with their holiday plans

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James Varney

Flashing the sort of offense for which they are famous, the New Orleans Saints built a big lead Sunday and then coasted home for a 34-19 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at the Superdome.

The win was the team’s third in a row as New Orleans (7-3) enters a very short week of preparation before playing at Dallas on Thanksgiving.

Coach Sean Payton declined to characterize the Saints as “on a roll,” saying he preferred no label at this point. On the other hand, he made it clear the team’s strong showing in November, particularly when forced to play short-handed, was positive.

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Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey (ribs), safety Darren Sharper (hamstring) and tailback Pierre Thomas (ankle) were officially ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Tailback Reggie Bush (leg) is listed as questionable after being limited in practice all week. But Coach Sean Payton said he had a good week of practice and remains optimistic he will be able to play, depending on how he looks in pre-game workouts.

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Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints and Winn-Dixie will collect food donations outside the Superdome on Sunday as part of their fourth annual food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. Non-perishable food items and monetary donations will be accepted, and collections will be taken at several entry points around the Superdome.

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Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

By now, everyone knows the New Orleans Saints’ defense is ranked No. 3 in the league in total defense.

What you might not know is how rare this is.

The Saints have never led the NFL in total defense.

That’s right, not once in 43 seasons have the Saints ever finished a season with the statistically stingiest stop unit.

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Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune

Game is Sunday at 3:05 PM

There was a time when the Seattle Seahawks ruled the NFC West, winning their division four consecutive times before Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals took over.

But the Seahawks — under Coach Pete Carroll, who left Southern Cal after last season to return to the NFL — appear ready to regain the division’s supremacy. Seattle’s 36-18 victory against the Cardinals on Sunday improved the Seahawks to 5-4 and moved them into first place.

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AP

The defending champion New Orleans Saints have demonstrated that they can defend with the best in the NFL this season.

If Coach Sean Payton’s offense regains its prolific form of the past four years, the Big Easy could find itself gearing up for another round of Lombardi Gras, as post Super Bowl celebrations around here have become known.

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James Varney, The Times-Picayune

The NFC at just past the midpoint of the 2010 season has been dominated by two circuses and a handful of near-Cinderellas.

Although considerable football remains to be played, the contenders for the postseason are beginning to emerge from a preseason in which the Dallas Cowboys were expected to be among them. Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants fans, for instance, are likely to see their heroes play more than one game in early 2011, as are, to a less certain degree, Who Dats everywhere.

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