King Arthur Movie Tristan

My Grandpa and Uncle Boo used to say there are only two teams you ever cheer for -- the Saints and whoever's playing the Cowboys.

This code of fandom was usually reminded to me on the way home from a Saints and Buccaneers game in the Dome, back in the '80s, when the Bucs were horrible and I was young --  and older relatives joined my Grandpa and Uncle Boo for better games.

So it still pains me to have watched the Saints get a boot in their ass from the Cowgirls.

And it churned greasy bacon and eggs on top the previous night's whiskey and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale in my stomach to watch the Saints get shutout by the Bucs in the second half and lose by an overtime field goal. 

I was bitter. And I was traveling and visiting relatives during the holidays. Without a laptop. And too pissed to hop on an in-law's pc and blog about two games the Saints showed up a total three quarters for.

I'm sure we're all bitter. But remember this: so far this season has been one a fan can only dream about. And it's far from over.

Ironically, the Saints can prove their road invincibility by beating Carolina, although the only road win that matters from here on out is the one in Miami: the Super Bowl.

Still, the Saints should destroy the Panthers -- like they did the Jets, Giants and Patriots -- so they can get their swagger back and game-plan aggressively with confidence for the playoffs.

After all, it'll be a new decade. A new year to spit-shine the rust off the run-defense that made Cadillac Williams look like a Pro Bowler and Tony Romo a Top Five quarterback, instead of just a smirking douchebag.

Let's hope the offense in this Carolina game will get back to 40-plus-point scoring fashion. It will be special against a Panthers defense that has allowed less than 12 points a game in its last five match ups.

I want to see the Saints air it out. Let's watch Drew Brees and our offensive arsenal torch them cats -- let's do what we do and let's be special.

The running game, honestly, with Brees and Sean Payton -- and the arsenal -- forever shall be, secondary. We are the forerunners in the modernization of the NFL: pass, pass and more pass. Only rely on the run in red-zone, short-yardage and run-out-the-clock situations.
Let's slide into this postseason with our guns blazing. Our defense is still ranked third in pass defense, behind the Jets and Bills, and Jabari Greer is due back.

Our defense is still ranked ninth in http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/2_988_Bendability_Index.html">bendability index.

And our offense is the only one to score 500 points. And by the way, Brees leads the quarterbacks of the Colts and Chargers, teams that lead in power rankings, with a 109.6 passer rating and 33.3 ppg.

The Saints are doing better than your TV-shooting-neighbors would lead you to believe. It's damn hard to win more than 13 games a season. Just ask the 2008 Steelers (12-4), 2007 Giants (10-6), 2006 Colts (12-4), and 2005 Steelers (11-5).

Who was the last team to win a Super Bowl with 14-2 reg-season record, you ask? Yep, the 2004 Patriots. And they did it in 2003 too. But shit on them.

So it's time to concede that I, jshox, the alter ego of Jeremy Shockey, is a bit disappointed my namesake did not make the Pro Bowl. But this blog is really about the Super Bowl!

And there's always next year.

However, let's congratulate the Saints who have been honored this year among peers and fans: Brees, Jahri Evans, Darren Sharper, Jonathan Stinchcomb, and Jonathan Vilma.

Now let's put our Who Dat! asses in Miami for another reason.