How Can You Not Root For The Saints This Weekend?

Unless you live in the state of Minnesota, it would be un-American to root against the Saints this weekend.  They are eternal NFL doormats.  They are the historical cellar dwellers.  They are the Aints.

The Saints began play in the NFL in 1967.  Their first “non-losing” season was not until 13 years later, in 1979, when they went 8-8.

During the 1980 season, the Saints returned to their losing ways.  Fans began to wear grocery sacks over their heads to Sunday home games.  The Saints affectionately came to be called the Aints.

The Saints did not achieve a winning record until 1987.  In case you do not recall, 1987 was the strike season where teams were forced to play with replacement players for a few games.  This turned out great for the Saints who 20 years after starting in the NFL finally had a playoff team.

January 3rd, 1988 was the Saints first ever playoff game.  They would host the now dreaded Minnesota Vikings at the Superdome.  Final score was Minnesota 44 – New Orleans 10.

The Saints first playoff win would not come until the year 2000.  This is after being in the league for 33 years.

The Saints first time in an NFC Championship game was in 2006 after New Orleans recorded their second playoff win in their 40 year team history.  This was also one year after hurricane Katrina flooded the city of New Orleans; a year in which the Saints would play zero games in the Superdome.

So here we are in 2010 with a rematch of sorts from the Saints first ever playoff game.

It is time for revenge.  Not just against the first ever playoff loss to these same Vikings from Minnesota, but also against the all of the NFL who have long feasted on these Saints.

For Archie, for Tom Benson, for Bourbon Street, for the Superdome, and for the Big Easy….  it is time.

  It is time for a Saints victory.  It is time for the New Orleans Saints to play in a Super Bowl.