September is supposed to be a month for feeling things out. It’s the “getting to know you” portion of the NFL season. The levels of stress are usually at a minimum for players, coaches, and fans. However, there are teams that do not like to beat around the bush. These are teams that said to be talented to where that can at least be middle of the road and hell, maybe even contend if they have their stuff together, yet they come into September unprepared, unfocused, and ready to put themselves in compromising situations. The Saints and the Giants are a couple of these teams and this weekend, they both will play in must win games.
The Giants travel to rival Philadelphia with an 0-2 record after being picked by some stupid idiot sports talkers (myself included) to go to the Super Bowl this season. The Giants are very good at making sure their fans experience maximum stress levels throughout a season. Last year they started 2-4 before going on a 6 game winning streak and an11–5 finish. A loss this week could be the end of Eli Manning’s career as a trustworthy quarterback. A loss could be the end of Ben McAdoo’s short head coaching career. An 0-3 start in today’s NFL is nearly unforgivable and it usually sparks sweeping changes within even the most patient organizations.
Speaking of skipping the foreplay and getting right into “must win” scenarios, Week 3’s most desperate team plays at rival Carolina as they try to avoid a second straight 0-3 start. The New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton are the worst case of Super Bowl hangover there has ever been. Sure they had some great seasons after the championship victory. An 11 win season here. A 13 win season there. But after winning the championship teams in this league adapt to your formula and eventually figure you out. Sean Payton’s regime was just too fat and happy living off of some good seasons and one great one to adapt and because of this, the team has turned into a fantasy football factory instead of an NFL contender.
The Saints pose an offensive threat to anyone because they have a Hall of Fame quarterback who can manage and execute a gameplan better than almost anyone. Brees can still make all the throws and he can still will a team to win. The same cannot be said for Sean Payton anymore. This man used to be an innovator but now he is coasting on past successes and on Sunday his entire New Orleans empire might come crashing down. With all jokes about Tom Benson never having it in him to fire Payton aside, the truth is that the Saints are just about one more loss from becoming the “Aints” again. A monniker Benson had long despised and worked hard to shred. The Saints did, but old habits die hard and this Sunday against a rival team, the Saints could officially become a laughing stock once again and Mr. Benson might have to finally wake up and realize the time for celebrating a 7 year old victory is over.
– Alan Michael