Saints Have Lost Their ‘Old Magic’ And Found Trouble
Homefield Disadvantage
Sep 20, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints fans react from the stands against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Buccaneers won 26-19. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
This is perhaps the most disappointing factor that I observed against the Bucs today in that the once feared “Domefield Advantage” is anything other than that.
The first Saints game I attended was the season opener in 2010 against the Minnesota Vikings and every snap that quarterback Brett Farve took was under a blanket of noise that would rival a jet engine.
You could forget talking to the person next to you because unless you could read lips you were out of luck and the vibration in my ear drums was disorienting.
The gentleman seated next to me said with a sly grin during a timeout, “If you think this is loud then you should have been here last year and for Steve Gleason’s blocked punt because this is nothing.”
What a first time attendee at today’s game experienced would have been a huge disappointment as large chunks of the Superdome remained seated when the opposing offense was on the field and I saw some sitting with their chin resting in their hands.
Head coach Sean Payton said in an interview this week that the crowd noise is a big factor but that the team needs to create that environment.
But after today’s performance it’s likely that the once claustrophobic noise maelstrom that opposing teams faced is not the intimidating factor it once was.
Oct 26, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints fans celebrate in the stands during the third quarter of a game against the Green Bay Packers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Packers 44-23. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
NOLA.com ‘s Larry Holder put it beautifully in an article following the game that the “fear” is gone from the Superdome and that teams likely circle the Saints as a sure win on their schedules.
A lady a few rows above me also put it poetically when she yelled following another stalled offensive series, “Hey guys this is a spectator sport, but we’re supposed to be the spectators — not ya’ll!”
The last game the Saints have won at home was against the Green Bay Packers on October 26, 2014 which is almost a year ago.
Let that sink in.
The next home game will be October 4th against the Dallas Cowboys who will be without wide receiver Dez Bryant and Tony Romo who have recently suffered injuries.
But to be honest, I don’t even know if that gift will be enough to help the Saints; and backup quarterback Brandon Weeden might look just as good as Romo in the Superdome.
Looks like more “trouble” ahead…..
Next: Here Are the Ways That the Saints Can SAVE Their Season