And To Think, I Almost Forgot How Good Winning Felt

I'm not going to sit here and pretend that game was anything more than what it was - a shining display of the Chargers almost miraculous ability to piss away football games they have no business losing. As much as I wish it weren't true, the fact of the matter is that yesterday's outcome had much more to do with San Diego's ineptitude than New Orleans' perseverance. Credit to the Saints for capitalizing on the most timely of turnovers, but there aren't glasses that are black and gold enough for me to view them as anything other than gifts. That's not to say a formerly winless team - that is plenty familiar with finding ways to lose in their own right - should apologize for winning, but it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge that their opponent's late game incompetence made it all possible.

The truth is, there were about 10-15 times in which I felt compelled to stop time and hammer out a thesis paper on the fatal flaws of the 2016 New Orleans Saints. I think anyone that has watched this team over the last few years knows there would be no shortage of material to do so. The defense has been so bad for so long that it could inspire a literary critique so extensive it would make the Bible look like a children's book. Fortunately - due to an improbable comeback that left half a stadium  full of surfer bros muttering "dude..." under their breathe as they wallowed in their self pity - today is NOT the day that composition will be created. Nope. I don't want to ignore the wealth of issues staring this team directly in the face but with how hard the victories have been to come by, that's exactly what I am going to do. 

So let's forget that the Saints gave up 34 points in what most of their fans would consider an "admirable" defensive performance. No need to focus on how that's the surest indication of how low expectations have gotten. Let's forget that the Saints were actively trying to find ways to keep their 60 million dollar safety OFF the field while inserting guys off the street into their starting secondary. No need to focus on - yet another - piss poor investment in the personnel department. Let's forget that Drew Brees - while admittedly not having much help - was largely outperformed by the guy that took his job decade ago. No need to focus on something as silly as a starting quarterback's performance. If only temporarily, winning cures all better than the most highly potent prescription pill.

So let's laud the defense for creating turnovers when it mattered most. Let's be happy that the unknown defensive backs replacing overpaid parking cones are capable of making game-sealing plays. Let's praise Drew Brees for making his long awaited homecoming a successful one. Fuck every single one of the endless amounts of reasons to be pessimistic. There will be plenty of time for that negativity (AKA harsh reality) after this team inevitably scratches and claws it's way back to respectability before dropping a handful of games to inferior opponents. Until then, be blissfully ignorant of what the future holds. The beauty of winning is that it gives you the right to do so, and - goddamn - it feels good to FINALLY exercise that right...

Awesome moment Drew Brees with Saints fans pic.twitter.com/ENKQUepteX

— Sean Fazende (@SeanFazende) October 3, 2016