The NFL Playoffs create excitement and hype within a fan base like no other tournament on Earth. The tension, anticipation, and analysis builds and builds each week as some fans psyche themselves out and try to convince anyone and everyone that this is “their year.” Some fans try to stay grounded and not get too jacked up until it is time to party. Whatever the case may be, the NFL Playoffs have fans at their most emotional. This week it is the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs and obviously this week has been the most “lit” week Saints fans have had all season long.
Coming off of a win against one of your rivals is nice, but sweeping a rival three times in one season is very special and builds not only a crazy amount of confidence in a fan base, but it also creates a kind of swag within a locker room that becomes contagious. Hence the brooms and dancing in the Saints locker room after the win last Sunday at home versus Carolina. That was the day the Saints learned that they are so good, they can beat a well respected team every time they line up against them. There is something to be said about having someone’s number. It’s called “pwnge” in the nerdy video game world, and it creates monsters.
The monster was born in the Saints locker room when during the sweeping, head shuffling, and cabbage patching, head coach Sean Payton got so caught up in the joy he put his put his arms like he was riding his handlebars from left to right and he two stepped back and forth like he was “bout dat life.” Fans saw the leaked social media footage of Coach Cool’s unique dance and faster than Quincy Jones could say, “hey Rashida,” a new dance craze and rallying cry was born. This week has been so “lit” for Saints fans because this is the week where the majority of them were convinced that their team could represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The song, the dance, and the monumental victory in the Wild Card round has the majority of Saints fans believing in what was thought to be impossible way back in September. The belief could not have come at a more ironic time for New Orleans Saints fans.
If I would have told you this is the situation the Saints would be in after the last time the Saints faced off against the Minnesota Vikings back in Week 1 of the season in early September, you would have had major doubts. If I would have told you after that 29-19 loss on Monday Night Football that the Saints would have six Pro Bowlers with two rookies in the running to both win Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, you would have asked if I had a concussion. If I would have told you after the mollywopping the Saints took in Minnesota that Saints fans would all be rallying around a dance created by Sean Payton come January, you would have laughed at me and told me he was probably going to be fired mid-season.
Things change and all of those things did happen. So here we are. The Divisional Round of the Playoffs and the Saints are back in the building where this unlikely season got started in embarrassing fashion. The differences in the two teams compared to then are too numerous to count, but we do know the most important difference; the copious amount of confidence this team has gained just in the last week because of a win, a song, and a goofy white guy’s infectious dance moves.
– Alan Michael