For the Saints, Division Title Is a Muted Milestone
The Redskins' Andre Carter upends Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who has eight 300-yard passing games this year but threw for 207 against Washington.
(By Toni L. Sandys -- The Washington Post)
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Monday, December 18, 2006
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 17 -- Scenes from inside a championship locker room:
Silence, punctured occasionally by the rip of athletic tape or a deep sigh. Gatorade on ice. Untouched T-shirts hanging in every locker that read: "New Orleans Saints -- NFC South Champions."
On Sunday at the Louisiana Superdome, the Saints clinched the third division championship in their 40-season history. The Saints lost to the Washington Redskins, 16-10, but the Carolina Panthers' 37-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, coupled with Atlanta's loss to Dallas on Saturday night, mathematically gave the Saints the title.
"It's just a bittersweet moment," Saints tackle Jon Stinchcomb said. "With a heavy dose on the bitter, and very light on the sweet."
The Saints (9-5) entered Sunday as a multifaceted carnival on offense and fresh off a 42-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 10. The popular favorite around the country, the Saints play in a city and a dome that remain marked by Hurricane Katrina.
A homemade sign at the Superdome read: "The Greatest Show on FEMA Turf," but the Saints' offense compiled only 270 net yards, compared to an average of 410.6 in its previous 13 games.
Quarterback Drew Brees entered as an MVP candidate with eight 300-yard passing games, two short of tying an NFL record. On Sunday, he threw for 207 yards on 21-for-38 passing, an average outing for a suddenly average offense.
"I won't be celebrating at all tonight if that's what you're wondering," Brees said. "I have the shirt. I have the hat. They're in my bag. I'll go home and I'll put them in my closet."
The Saints' running back combo of the powerful Deuce McAllister and the speedy Reggie Bush combined for only 62 yards.
"It was a humbling experience," McAllister said. "We had dropped passes, communication problems sometimes on the offensive line. There are some things we have to get corrected. If not, then you see what will happen."
Coach Sean Payton, his voice hoarse, kept using the word "sluggish" to describe his team.
"It looked like we were half-asleep," he said.
