The New Orleans Saints are the defending Super Bowl champs. That being said, they are not playing as well as they did last season and have been able to post a five-game winning streak on timely plays and a little bit of smarts. Or some bungles on the part of their opponents.
The razor thin edge of winning and losing in the NFL was brought home to a national audience yesterday and demonstrates the difference between a well coached team and a team that has just lost something. The Cincinnati Bengals were supposed to be a playoff contender in 2010. Instead they are 2-10, mostly because of bungles like the one yesterday. Down by three the Saints line up for a 4th and 2 deep in the Bengals red zone. Everybody in the stadium knows new Orleans isn’t going to snap the ball. Everyone but the Bengals. Drew Brees does some hollering, sends a man in motion, rips off a hard count…..and the Bengals jump offsides. First down Saints. Touchdown saints on the next play and game over. Another Bengals bungle or a brilliant move by New Orleans? You decide.