I have to be honest. I simply didn't expect it to be that close. Never mind the actual game against the Eagles, for - with 21 of the Saints' 22 opening game starters active on the practice field - the annual and timeless battle of rest versus rust appeared set to be dominated by the former. Credit to the ladder for taking advantage of it's opportunities, because it stormed back in a form and fashion that would have sent a six seed to the NFC Championship if not for the mental toughness of a particularly unflappable one seed. That one seed, of course, being a New Orleans Saints' team whose belief in their ability to overcome even the most demoralizing of deficits would border on irrational if not for the consistency and versatility of the results it has returned. It certainly helped that they were the more talented group, regardless of what the run of play might have suggested in the early going, but the lack of panic after a first quarter that was nothing short of pathetic is what made a quick 14 point hole seem scalable. It's what allowed for Drew Brees to recover from what was a stomach churning start. It's what aided them in completely flipping the script to put forth a defensive clinic, sans Sheldon Rankins, against a quarterback who was came out of the gates waving his big old dick around like it was a magic wand. God bless him for playing through a broken hand, but it's what helped them drag an Andrus Peat-sized anchor over the finish line when his penalties just as easily could have sunk their season. Last but not least, it's one of the only things that could explain an 18-play, 112 yard touchdown drive that put them in the lead for good after spanning the better part of a third quarter that saw a game-breaking score called back by penalty and multiple disastrous down-and-distances defeated.
It's debatable whether or not a team's mental makeup matters as much as their roster makeup, but it's hard to argue that the immortal approach of one of the most complete and cohesive lineups in the league doesn't make them a tougher out. Highlighted by a conservative third down call that was out-of-character, inexcusably rushed (considering it came following a timeout), and - as a result - returned a loss of yards prior to an already intimidating FG attempt, the Saints made almost every mistake typical of an easy out. Therefore, the fact that they are very much still in has to be a testament to their tenacity as much as their talent. Unsurprisingly, Michael Thomas and Marshon Lattimore were especially dominant, but their timeliness in turning the page on some shockingly uninspiring initial execution was just as representative of their sideline's overall temperament. The better team won because they were, in large part, the better team. However, that's rarely all it takes when you spot a defending Super Bowl champion the momentum of a two touchdown lead. A fake punt that was about as surprising than Taysom Hill's ability to convert it, a top-notch turnover, and a brilliant play call on 4th-and-goal helped in starting to make up the difference, but a formidable brand of fortitude as much as a superior brand of football ultimately helped swing it in their favor. This Saints team might suck from time to time, but there shoulders never slump because of it. They truly believe they are going to win every game they play, and - with how instantaneously Drew and the defense put an end to Foles' magic and got their swagger back - who can even blame them?
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