By Ryan Chauvin
It was just about a year ago when the 2011 New Orleans Saints, fresh off claiming ALL THE RECORDS, headed to San Francisco to get their asses handed to them by a team that was fresher, meaner, and better prepared than they were.
The aftermath of that game was devastating. Personally, I had loved the 2011 Saints more than any team in recent memory (that didn’t win a Super Bowl, that is). I loved the swagger and I loved the integration of Jimmy(!) Graham and Darren Sproles into our offense. As soon as that offensive unit stepped onto the field it was as if every other Breesian team was just a Beta test. We had more talent at every position group than we knew what to do with (and by ‘we,’ I mean everyone who isn’t Sean Payton).
Going into that San Francisco game, it felt inconceivable that we could be beaten. I need to reiterate here the staggering heights my confidence reached. Then, some bruising 49er defender gave Pierre Thomas a concussion (if we’re being real here, we all know that Jimmy(!) also got a concussion that game, but he played through it. The lack of player safety oversight is an irony that never loses its touch), and that was that.
To think that I’d look back at that moment of utter defeat in such a loving, nostalgic light illustrates just how awful this year has actually been for Saints fans. Because you know what?
At the end of the day, we fucking lost that game, you know what I mean?
Last year we had a chance.
Fuck Roger Goodell.
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