It’s a rare day. The Saints and Tulane are both sitting at 4-1 and the sky is the limit. New Orleans took care of the Buccaneers and now are all alone in first place and Willie Fritz and the Green Wave are truly in the hunt for an AAC championship. It’s a beautiful day to be a New Orleans football fan.
New Orleans Saints (4-1)
Look at that record again. 4-1. I’m bouncing around as I write this because the Saints being 4-1 without Drew Brees is insane. It’s crazier than insane! During the pre-season, I honestly looked at that mean and cruel early schedule and just wanted to get out of the first month at 2-2. Then Brees took his injury. Everyone got sad and, well, Teddy Bridgewater and the defense saved us.
The greatest attribute of the New Orleans Saints does not have a jersey number or a name. It is bigger than any individual. The Saints are a feeling, a love, a struggle, an overcoming of obstacles. It’s beauty wrapped in Black and Gold. It’s fascinating to witness, to feel, to love.
The Saints defense stood up and got the wins in Seattle and against Dallas and Tampa Bay. The Saints defensive line is about to become the talk of the league. Cam Jordan is leading a unit that has thumped their offensive counterparts for the past eight quarters. They destroyed Dallas and terrorized Tampa Bay. The men on the D line recorded six sacks on Sunday versus the Buccaneers and, when they were not dropping Jameis Winston, they were hitting and hurrying Ole Crab Legs. Out of all the impressive stats recorded by the defense folks might forget that the defense had two interceptions called back. It was nasty. Before garbage time started with a few minutes left and the Saints leading 31-17, Winston had 85 yards passing.
Yet as we all huddle around the water coolers at work the first conversation will not be about the defense. It will be about — Teddy Bridgewater A.K.A. Touchdown Teddy.
Bridgewater tore up the Buccaneers 31st ranked pass defense and made such an impression on Who Dat Nation that “Teddy” chants echoed throughout the Superdome on multiple occasions. I guess doing 26-for-34, 314 yards and four touchdowns has a tendency to win folks over. While the stats were pretty, the most impressive aspect of Teddy’s game was simply airing the ball out downfield. Moreover, it felt like a Saints offense was on the field.
Michael Thomas was unstoppable as Bridgewater found him again and again. The 100 million dollar receiver had over a 100 yards receiving and one touchdown in the first half. Thomas ended up with 182 yards and two touchdowns on a day where he was always open and Bridgewater did not miss.
The Buccaneers never had a chance. Even without Brees, New Orleans remains a buzz saw and good luck to the NFL when they get Brees back. The Saints go on the road for the next two, visiting Jacksonville and Chicago. Big tests await, but the Saints have no fear.
Tulane Green Wave (4-1)
Even crazier than what’s happening downtown is what is happening Uptown as the Tulane Green Wave have gone 4-1 after beating Army 42-33 on the road in West Point. Tulane won a topsy-turvy game but, in the end, Army had no answer for the Green Wave offense as Justin McMillan went 15-for-21, 201 yards and two touchdowns in a game that might have been Amare Jones’ “Hello World” to the college football world.
Every time Tulane needed a play they went to Jones and Jones did not disappoint putting up video game stats going for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 15 touches. Army gave the Green Wave hell and never stopped coming but Tulane put away Army in the final minutes, snapping the Black Knights’ home win streak at 15 games.
Now the Green Wave enter a realm in which they’re unaccustomed to — the expectation to win and win again. UConn visits New Orleans next week in a game where Tulane is expected to win by double digits. After that is a massive game against #23 Memphis. Win that game and the Green Wave will be favored to win the next four setting up a giant last two weeks which sees Tulane host UCF and go on the road to play SMU.
Don’t sleep on it. The AAC is about to get wild.
And like a fine wine with a steak dinner, every game should be accompanied by a beverage and song.
Beer Pairing: Yulman Stadium – $3 dollar beers, y’all!
Playlist Recommendation: Choppa – “Choppa Style”
Around the Way
There’s more than one program on the rise at Tulane. If you want to roll with some winners you need to go check out Tulane Volleyball, who sits at 13-4 with 12 matches to go before the AAC tournament. The Wave are 3-1 in the AAC and just swept UConn 3-0. They will head to Tulsa and Wichita State before returning home to host Cincinnati on Oct. 18. Be there! Roll Wave!
