Listen Live to The Game

Menu

Skip to content
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Header image
Logo

103.7 The Game Hotline 337-706-0111

Menu

Skip to content
  • Clubhouse Rewards
    • Enter the Clubhouse Rewards
    • Clubhouse Rewards – How It Works
  • On-Air
    • After Hours with Amy Lawrence
    • The DA Show
    • RP3 & Company
      • RP3’s Blog
      • Hannah’s Blog
    • Footenotes with Kevin Foote
    • The Jim Rome Show
    • The Jordy Hultberg Show
    • Crunch Time w/ Miguez & Meche
      • Miguez’s Blog
      • James’s Blog
    • Tiger Rag Radio
    • Point Spread Saturday
    • Under the Dome with CD
      • CD’s Blog
    • Betting Across America
    • Point Spread Sunday
    • The Lombardi Line
  • On Demand
    • Audio On Demand – RP3 & Company
    • Audio On Demand – Footenotes with Kevin Foote
    • Audio On Demand – The Jordy Hultberg Show
    • Audio On Demand – Crunch Time with Miguez & Meche
    • Audio On-Demand – Under the Dome with CD
  • Podcasts
    • RAP Game Podcast
    • Cajun Strong Style Podcast
  • Teams
    • LSU Tigers
    • Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
    • New Orleans Saints
    • New Orleans Pelicans
    • McNeese Cowboys
    • LSUE Bengals
    • Houston Astros
    • High School Sports
  • Connect
    • Community Calendar
    • AcadianaDeals.com
    • Contact
    • The Game Apps & Smart Speakers
    • Text Club
    • PSA Submission
    • Contest Rules
    • General Contest Rules
    • Back to School Sweepstakes Official Rules
    • Advertise
    • Careers At Delta Media Corp.

Let’s Hope Hurricane History Doesn’t Repeat Itself for 2021 New Orleans Saints

Posted by davidgrubb on September 1, 2021 in Featured, Latest News, New Orleans Saints, What's Hot, What's New
Workers unload a crane load of roofing supplies as repairs to the damage caused by the winds of Hurricane Katrina begin on the roof of the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana in this file image from October 15, 2005. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File (UNITED STATES)

In the brief time since Hurricane Ida, there have been a number of tweets that compare the renaissance of the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton and Drew Brees to the situation that the Saints are facing now.

Yes, the Saints did take off in 2006. With Payton in place, Brees under center, Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush in the backfield, Marques Colston and Joe Horn out wide; New Orleans rode a top-five offense, and better than expected defense to a 10-6 record, NFC South Division Championship, a playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and a trip to the NFC Championship game.

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson (C, facing camera) hugs Saints Head Coach Sean Payton after the Saints defeated the Atlanta Falcons 23-3 at the Louisiana Superdome, the first NFL football game played at the arena since Hurricane Katrina, in New Orleans September 25, 2006. REUTERS/Sean Gardner (UNITED STATES)

Let’s not forget, however, what it took for the team and the city to revive themselves.

As devastating as Ida has been, what happened on Aug. 29, 2005 was incomparable to any event in American history.

And on a much smaller scale, no football team had to endure what the 2005 Saints went through.

Coming off of a disappointing 8-8 season in 2004, there was some optimism going into 2005. The Saints had won their last four games of the previous season, and three of their losses were by seven points or less.

Katrina hit the city just 13 days before the season opener. Soon after, it was announced that the Superdome would be unable to host any games that season, and the Saints were going to have to split their time between their temporary base in San Antonio, Texas, LSU’s Tigers Stadium, and a bizarre “home” opener against the New York Giants in the New Jersey Meadowlands.

With the emotional toll of the devastation of their city, the season quickly imploded. After somehow winning their season opener, the Saints finished near the bottom of the league in both offense and defense and ended up with a 3-13 record.

The relationship between the franchise and the city was also damaged by owner Tom Benson’s overt flirtations with San Antonio, the city where he built much of his fortune.

When Payton was hired in January of 2006, he was a first time head coach. Brees was coming off of a career-threatening shoulder injury, and the team was slated for the second pick in the draft.

What followed next didn’t save a city or a region, but it did inspire them.

If the lowly New Orleans Saints could rise up from the devastation they had faced, why couldn’t one of America’s greatest cities? Why couldn’t the rest of the Gulf Coast?

This time, Payton has been at the helm for 16 years, and the team has as much talent at the top of its roster as any in the league. Quarterback Jameis Winston isn’t being asked to be a savior, not for a franchise that has nine winning seasons during Payton’s tenure, including four consecutive division championships.

The team won’t play all of its games on the road, and there is no immediate threat of relocation.

Louisiana’s rebuild will be difficult. It will take a while.

Let’s hope the same isn’t true for the New Orleans Saints. It’s the last thing we need right now.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
Posted in Featured, Latest News, New Orleans Saints, What's Hot, What's New | Tagged Drew Brees, Football, Hurricane Katrina, Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Sean Payton

Related Posts

SAINTS HAPPY HOUR BREAKDOWN: New Orleans took the scenic route to a masterclass offseason→

New Orleans to play Minnesota in London on October 2nd→

SAINTS HAPPY HOUR BREAKDOWN: Presenting the 2022 Draft Class→

Saints Select Olave and Penning in the First Round of the 2022 NFL Draft→

Get it on Google Play
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

103.7 The Game on Facebook

Lafayette Weather
66°
clear sky
83% humidity
wind: 3m/s ENE
H 70 • L 64
Weather from OpenWeatherMap

@Game_Louisiana on Twitter

Tweets by @Game_Louisiana

©2022 KLWB-FM | KLCJ-FM | Powered By: Vipology

Menu

  • EEO
  • KLWB-FM Public File
  • Privacy Policy
  • Delta Media Corp.