Last Sunday's victory over the Steelers caused a reaction in me that made me realize how it really wasn't all that long ago that I used to have the same reaction to Saints victories. I was just so happy we won. Let me explain.
Of course I am always happy when we win. It's just that the way things have been going this season I found myself shell-shocked and when we beat the Steelers on their home field I was pleasantly surprised. Like I used to be in the old days whenever the Saints would win. I would say, "It's a good Sunday when we win!" That's because in the old days I used to expect the opposite but hope for the best.
It made me realize that after becoming accustomed to the winning ways of Payton, Brees and Co. I always expected a win, no matter who the opponent, no matter what the predictions were. High confidence was my normal expectation. This season changed all of that for me, starting with the 2 losses right out the gate. I mean, Atlanta and the Browns?? So close and yet so far... It was more than upsetting.
Then came Dallas and Detroit. My world was reeling from the ridiculousness of it all. But the 3 losses at home to SF, Cincinnati and Baltimore put me in a funk I haven't associated with the Saints since I can't even remember when. There was no good explanation, no logical reason, nothing I could tell myself that would console me or give me a glimmer of hope that things would get better. I was depressed, hurt, angry and felt like crying.
Before the Steelers game I told my family that it felt like the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Like somebody had come and taken over Sean Payton's body because I didn't know who that coach on the sidelines was anymore. I didn't recognize the expressionless face and eyes. I could not believe what I was seeing. What had they done with my coach?? And what happened to the vaunted defense of last season?? The Kenny Vaccaro I saw make the game-saving play to knock away the would-be winning TD away from Tony Gonzalez in the end zone at the Dome season opener was only a distant memory. Where did it all go?
In the end I guess I had to let it go. I had to get back to the old forgotten feelings of just being happy with a win on any given Sunday. In order to survive the season, I had to shut down my expectations. I was no longer confident. I was a "realist" when it came to the weekly game. That made me mad when I thought about it. Wait a minute! Isn't this the team that so many picked to go to the Super Bowl even before the season began? Isn't this the team that had inspired confidence in a majority of the pundits and analysts (except for the usual haters)? I guess when all was said and done, maybe it wasn't that team. Maybe it was too much of a rebuild with too much veteran loss on defense. Who can really say how much the loss of veteran leadership of Vilma, Greer, Jenkins, Harper and Smith impacted the mostly young defense? I believe it had a huge impact.
I know it's easy to say in hindsight that I wasn't one who drank the koolaid. I took more of the wait and see approach since there were so many major changes in personnel. I wasn't sold and that is saying a lot coming from someone who had become so confident in the Saints as a team and an organization. I became a Saints fan in 1982 and never looked back. They were my loveable losers and I was in their corner come rain or shine. I still am. I'm just different since the reign of Sean Payton and Drew Brees. I haven't enjoyed watching the team this much ever. I hadn't envisioned the kind of success that Saints fans weren't used to. Not really used to anyway.
I love the Saints. I will always believe. I still believe they can win the Division. My comfort taken in the fact that it's such a lousy Division this season. That's a good thing for the Saints as it turns out, lol! It's just that the realization of the feelings I had Sunday and how they were strangely familiar made me see things in a new light. I don't care anymore except that I will be happy with a win. I mean, I do care but I won't expect as much as I did at the beginning of the season. It will be what it will be, but I am going to enjoy the wins and spit out the losses in disgust. That's all a girl can do.
Geaux Saints! Who Dat!
Of course I am always happy when we win. It's just that the way things have been going this season I found myself shell-shocked and when we beat the Steelers on their home field I was pleasantly surprised. Like I used to be in the old days whenever the Saints would win. I would say, "It's a good Sunday when we win!" That's because in the old days I used to expect the opposite but hope for the best.
It made me realize that after becoming accustomed to the winning ways of Payton, Brees and Co. I always expected a win, no matter who the opponent, no matter what the predictions were. High confidence was my normal expectation. This season changed all of that for me, starting with the 2 losses right out the gate. I mean, Atlanta and the Browns?? So close and yet so far... It was more than upsetting.
Then came Dallas and Detroit. My world was reeling from the ridiculousness of it all. But the 3 losses at home to SF, Cincinnati and Baltimore put me in a funk I haven't associated with the Saints since I can't even remember when. There was no good explanation, no logical reason, nothing I could tell myself that would console me or give me a glimmer of hope that things would get better. I was depressed, hurt, angry and felt like crying.
Before the Steelers game I told my family that it felt like the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Like somebody had come and taken over Sean Payton's body because I didn't know who that coach on the sidelines was anymore. I didn't recognize the expressionless face and eyes. I could not believe what I was seeing. What had they done with my coach?? And what happened to the vaunted defense of last season?? The Kenny Vaccaro I saw make the game-saving play to knock away the would-be winning TD away from Tony Gonzalez in the end zone at the Dome season opener was only a distant memory. Where did it all go?
In the end I guess I had to let it go. I had to get back to the old forgotten feelings of just being happy with a win on any given Sunday. In order to survive the season, I had to shut down my expectations. I was no longer confident. I was a "realist" when it came to the weekly game. That made me mad when I thought about it. Wait a minute! Isn't this the team that so many picked to go to the Super Bowl even before the season began? Isn't this the team that had inspired confidence in a majority of the pundits and analysts (except for the usual haters)? I guess when all was said and done, maybe it wasn't that team. Maybe it was too much of a rebuild with too much veteran loss on defense. Who can really say how much the loss of veteran leadership of Vilma, Greer, Jenkins, Harper and Smith impacted the mostly young defense? I believe it had a huge impact.
I know it's easy to say in hindsight that I wasn't one who drank the koolaid. I took more of the wait and see approach since there were so many major changes in personnel. I wasn't sold and that is saying a lot coming from someone who had become so confident in the Saints as a team and an organization. I became a Saints fan in 1982 and never looked back. They were my loveable losers and I was in their corner come rain or shine. I still am. I'm just different since the reign of Sean Payton and Drew Brees. I haven't enjoyed watching the team this much ever. I hadn't envisioned the kind of success that Saints fans weren't used to. Not really used to anyway.
I love the Saints. I will always believe. I still believe they can win the Division. My comfort taken in the fact that it's such a lousy Division this season. That's a good thing for the Saints as it turns out, lol! It's just that the realization of the feelings I had Sunday and how they were strangely familiar made me see things in a new light. I don't care anymore except that I will be happy with a win. I mean, I do care but I won't expect as much as I did at the beginning of the season. It will be what it will be, but I am going to enjoy the wins and spit out the losses in disgust. That's all a girl can do.
Geaux Saints! Who Dat!