It was the fall of 1980 when we found ourselves in the surreal world of the “Aints’’ at the New Orleans Superdome. We were surrounded by thousands of creatures wearing bags over their heads with small slits for their eyes. We were certain that they viewed us an alien sans-bag.
New Orleans was in the process of losing its 12th straight game that inglorious season with the visiting Los Angeles Rams coasting to a 27-7 victory while limiting the Saints offense to 96 total yards. It cost head coach Dick Nolan his job.
Their veteran quarterback, Archie Manning, who has been selected to play in the Pro Bowl the previous two years, would later thank Jack Youngblood, the Rams’ star defender, for sympathizing with his plight in what he accurately described as “the darkest side of football.’’
. As Manning reminisced to Sports Illustrated’s Paul Zimmerman in 1974, “The Rams front four was the best I ever faced. I’ve got to say that Youngblood was nice enough to pick me up every time he knocked me on my butt. He wouldn’t have gotten into the Hall of Fame without having me to sack. I should have been his presenter.’’
The ‘’Aints’’ humiliation by the Rams came the night before we covered Roberto Duran’s stunning “No Mas’’ surrender to Sugar Ray Leonard in the same building, and, in retrospect, it was difficult deciding which event was more weird.
In a recent poll conducted by ESPN to determine the worst NFL team of all time, the 1980 “Aints’’ who finished 1-13,and allowed 487 points, received strong support, finishing second only to the winless 1976 Tampa Bay Bucs coached by John McKay. Quarterback Steve Spurrier managed to throw only 7 touchdown passes all season. When a reporter asked McKay, after another lopsided loss, about the execution of his offense, McKay responded, “I’m in favor of it.’’
But Sunday afternoon, the bitter memory of the “Aints’’ and 43 frustrating years without the franchise reaching the Super Bowl was wiped clean by New Orleans’ dramatic 31-28 overtime victory over Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC title showdown. Place kicker Garrett Hartley, who had been suspended early in the season for using a banned substance, was carried off the field by his jubilant teammates after splitting the uprights with his booming 40-yard kick.
This had to be the “Feel Good’’ story of the year. The celebration on Bourbon street went long into the night, almost allowing the citizens to forget how their city was almost swept away by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when the leaking Superdome was the last refuge of the flood’s homeless survivors.
Team owner Tom Benson refused overtures to move the Saints to another city. As proud coach Sean Payton said in behalf of all the faithful fans, “This stadium used to have holes in it. It used to be wet. It’s not wet anymore. This one is for the city of New Orleans.’’
Still, it was the most improbable of victories. The Vikings controlled the clock and out-gained the Saints 475-257, but were victims of repeated mistakes. They officially turned the ball over five times on three fumbles and a pair of interceptions. But star running back Adrian Peterson (25-for-122), who scored three of his team’s four touchdowns , was extremely fortunate in losing only one of his three fumbles.
Favre, the 40-year-old media darling, wasn’t so lucky with his final pass in the closing seconds of regulation when he attempted to give the Vikings’ veteran place kicker Ryan Longwell an easier shot at the winning field goal. Battered all evening by the relentless rush of the Saints’ underrated defense, he had limped off the field in the third quarter after injuring his left ankle
. He returned to action on the Vikings’ next possession. On his fatal final pass, he appeared to have a clear field ahead of him along the right sidelines. But perhaps wary of his shaky ankle, he elected to throw across his body into a crowd of defenders, and the Saints’ Tracy Porter made the key interception.
This was the same way three years ago that Favre, then the Packers’ field general, had seen his Super Bowl bid end against the New York Giants. And his new Viking teammates believe this time their ageless hired gunslinger will retire for good.
It was probably fated that the Vikings lost the coin toss to start the overtime. Running back Pierre Thomas returned the kickoff 40 yards to Minnesota’s 39. The Saints then benefited from a questionable reception and fumble recovery, before a final 9-yard pass from Drew Brees to Devery Henderson set up Hartley’s winning kick
The always-confident Brees basked in his newfound glory. “”It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for a long time, and we’re not done yet,’’ said Brees, looking forward to his Super Bowl meeting with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts (16-2) who silenced Rex Ryan and the Jets, 30-17, in the AFC showdown in Indianapolis.
Archie Manning is undoubtedly happy that the Saints (15-3) have finally gained respectability, but rest assured he will be rooting for his celebrated son in Miami, Feb. 7.
Rookie head coach Jim Caldwell had been bombarded by protests from the Colts faithful a month ago when he decided it was better to forfeit a chance at finishing a perfect season in favor of resting Manning and his other regulars for a Super Bowl push. Team president Bill Polian felt even more heat when fans claimed they were being asked to pay top dollar to watch the Colts’ reserves “”dump’’ games in successive weeks to the Jets and Bills. It allowed the Jets to qualify as a wild card entry.
But Caldwell and Manning felt vindicated after rallying from an 11-point deficit in the first half to assure their second Super Bowl appearance in three years.
Asked if he silenced the critics, the soft-spoken Caldwell, said, “No, sir. I really didn’t try to focus on anything of that nature. We weren’t out to prove anything. There is no sense of vindication or retribution. All we’re trying to do is what’s best for our team--plain and simple.’’
Manning was more succinct. “I thought we just kept our mouths shut and went to work this week,’’ said Peyton (26-39 for 377 yards, 3 TD’s) who was near-perfect in the second half .in keeping the Jets’ No. 1 defense constantly on its heels. .It was simply Manning being Manning, the best quarterback in the game today, and, perhaps, of all time
He even managed to momentarily silence the verbose Ryan, who had talked confidently of reaching the Super Bowl, based on a crunching running attack and a swarming defense. In the end, it was fast-maturing rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez (17-30 for 257 yards, 2 TD’s) who gave the Jets the chance of winning. Surprisingly, the Colts out-rushed the Jets 101-86 with oft-criticized Joseph Addai accounting for 80 yards
In his post-game comments, Ryan could only pay tribute to Manning and his playmates, led by receiver Pierre Garcon (11 catches for 151 yards, 1 TD), a native of Haiti who dedicated his performance to his relatives, found to have survived the devastating earthquake.
Said Ryan, “These guys are incredibly tough. You have Manning back there pulling the trigger. We tried everything- -man and zone coverage, you name it.
You have to give him credit. He’s one helluva quarterback. Anybody that plays these guys has issues because Manning is better than anyone else. He’s smart and accurate, and he’s patient. He waits for the right time to go for the kill shot, like he did at the end of the first half, and then he drops the hammer.. And their defense is good enough. But their offense has carried their team for years.
There’s another reason to root for the once-hated Colts. That’s the presence of place-kicker Matt Stover, who was abandoned by the Ravens, and will now, at 42, be the oldest player to appear in a Super Bowl.
All that said, we’ll be rooting for New Orleans, with the “Aints’’ and Hurricane Katrina in its anguished history. Besides, is there a better fight song than “When the Saints Come Marching In.’ If only Louie was around to blow his horn in Miami.
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