Atlanta Falcons (10/32)

November 2011

Matchup: Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints (w)

Setting: 

• 25 yard line only 5 rows back at field level

Game Highlights: 

• Controversial call for ATL... Mike Smith severely criticized for going for it on 4th and 3 which ultimately led to the Falcons losing the game. 
• At one point during the game, we were part of the card trick, holding a color above our head to make a picture as a stadium together.
• Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzales! All very exciting to watch
• Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham
• Veterans Day weekend
• Lots of Samuel L Jackson on the jumbotron.
• "Rise Up" 

Trip memories: 

• Coke factory
• Great southern food up the block at a local place with rocking chairs
• Stayed at CNN center
• Part of my work trip
• Cab driver gave me hug for tipping him
• Hung out in Olympic park

AWARD:  Most Controversial Call

Sah's Top 9 Reasons to Support the Saints!
not necessarily in any order

1. Katrina

2. New Orleans had never been to a Superbowl before

3. Peyton's arrogance needed to be put into place

4. If Colts won, they'd be compared to Patriots even more

5. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities and definitely my favorite vacation trip taken with Stevers.

6. Shawn Smith's team

7. I actually have gear to wear to support NOLA

8. Football is one place where when you go with your heart, you will come out on top

9. Peyton & team have enough superbowl rings, spread the love

Kicker MVP

Ok, so that didn't happen... but in my opinion Garrett Hartley (K, 23 years old) totally deserved it. There's not much more a kicker can do without it being a total freak situation to win a Superbowl.

1) Hartley successfully kicked THREE long, hard field goals
2) Hartley was the sole scorer during a struggling first half for the Saints
3) Hartley successfully created the on-side kick which was an emotional game changer at the opening of the second half

I understand Drew had a record-breaking number of completed passes, as well as two TDs and almost 300 yards... so I get it... but for once I'd like to see a kicker win it!

The Saints Go Marching

...All the way to a championship win! Congrats to Dree Brews, Marques Colston and the entire city of New Orleans on a much deserved win. As Coach said in the pre-game, my head said Colts but my heart said Saints. Just goes to show you that in football, heart can win the game.

Superbowl Ratings Not Optimal for CBS

I believe this year CBS will be the broadcasting station for the Superbowl. This lucky network however could have had bigger ratings if things had turned out differently during the NFC championship game this week.

CBS execs were routing for the Vikings... and not because they like Adrian Peterson. They were routing for Vikings because the head-to-head matchup of "Peyton Manning vs. Brett Favre" was predicted to bring in higher viewership and higher ratings.

Their worst case scenario? Jets vs. Saints.

Hey, you can't win them all.

2010 Superbowl Prediction

I hesitate to write out of superstitions... I don't want to jinx anyone! My gut tells me that the Colts are more likely to win on February 7th. When thinking about Peyton vs. Brees, I would have to go with Peyton.

But to quote my favorite player (Plaxico for you newbies), to win it takes heart:

"Throw Your Heart Over the Wall and Your Body Will Follow"

I believe the Saints are the better posed team to win this from the heart. My trip to New Orleans for the BCS game gave me a new respect for the city ... and an emotional attachment.

Let's go Saints.

Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Someone asked me who I was rooting for this weekend in the NFC championship: Minnesota Vikings or the New Orleans Saints.

I answered New Orleans.

Knowing my deep-seeded dislike for Mr. Favre, the counter-point was offered that if the Vikings won the Superbowl, he might finally retire.

This places me between a rock and a hard place. I would love to see Brett give it up. I'm sick of the dramas he causes. I watch football because it's generally pretty drama-free (well not-really but you don't need to follow the drama to enjoy the game).

But there is no way that I want Brett to go out on a high note. Gosh, they might give him a job as a reporter or something and then I'd be stuck with him FOREVER.

Yes, that might happen anyways... but less likely if he goes out unhappy, whining like he always does when he doesn't get his way.

So in honor of my favorite vacation/city to visit (New Orleans) and my distaste for BF, I say woodat?!

SO SORRY

For 10 days, instead of blogging about the NFL, I had to blog about Fashion Week for work. Therefore I have missed a whole SCHLEW of topics I wanted to talk about. Here's the quick and dirty:

1. Philly eagles: Oh, Eagles, I wish you had beat the Cowboys. But how can you when the refs no longer call facemask penalties?

2. Tom Brady: Do I need to comment? It seems like everyone else in the world already has so I'll refrain.

3. Jets: I think the past few games have proven the Jets are better with Farve, but they still suck overall.

4. Giants: Well firstly, they should have never come that close to Cinncy... and the reason they did was because they did not use Plaxico... AT ALL. WTF??!?!

5. RedSkins game: Another reason I was unavailable to blog in the last two weeks is because I was actually traveling attending a game! The Redskins - Saints game. What a fantastic game. I'll do another post with pictures. It's worth expanding on.

6. QBs of the NFL: No one is safe.

7. My Fantasy Teams: OMG, this year i have three teams... so hard to keep track of. But in one league i'm kicking ass, in another i'm sucking ass, and another is the middle of the road.

8. Suicide Pool: I'm already out. Damn you Seattle.

Washington Redskins (4/32)

September 2008

Matchup: Washington Redskins vs. New Orleans Saints

Setting: 

• Super hot day
• Top deck, middle, 30 yard line
• With John and Saki

Game Highlights

• Reggie bush punt return td
• Drew Brees
• Rex Grossman

Trip memories:

• Ran into John. On the same train car
• Took forever, multiple trains and improve when shuttles were canceled to get to the stadium

Award:  Worst Stadium To Get To 

Un-Shocking Departure

The Giants came around and traded Shockey to New Orleans. Not Shocking. Pun intended.

Open Planning Season

WOO HOOOOOOOO. The NFL schedule for fall 2008 is out and tickets are already on stubhub! YEAH. Now I can start planning trips around the country to achieve Sah&Stevers' life goal to see all 32 NFL teams play in their home stadium. 2 down, 30 to go.

Within the first 24hours we bought tickets to Red Skins - Saints. Sweetness!

Rams Go Marching In

What they say might actually be true... it could be harder to go 0-16 than 16-0... On one hand, who'd though the St. Louis Rams would go this far without winning... but I was really starting to think it was possible... But finally the streak is broken.

This early afternoon, the Rams beat the Saints.

Awww, how pathetic for the Saints to lose to a team like the Rams.

However, thank GOODNESS my mom did not listen to Stevers and I and pick the Saints over the Rams. She was right to consider the fact that St. Louis is coming off their rested bye week and the truth about Drew Brees.

How awesome would this season be if the two extreme records were broken. I'd love to see the Pat's go undefeated... and heck, who cares if the Dolphins go unchampioned. It's already an embarassing season and maybe we'd get some great coach rants Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?

Sorry all you fins fans. I mean no offense.