By Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune
December 02, 2009, 1:16PM
The last time I saw the New Orleans Saints play the Patriots I distinctly remember how impressed I was with the Patriots’ game plan.
Throughout a 34-17 rout of the Saints in 2001, it seemed like the Patriots were one step ahead of New Orleans on every snap. When the Saints blitzed, the Patriots called a screen pass. When the Saints called a screen, it seemed like the Patriots were waiting for it.
On Monday night in the Saints 38-17 win, the coaching mismatch favored the Saints. Sean Payton and his staff got the better of Bill Belichick’s bunch. They seemingly were a step ahead of the Patriots all night, and Belichick and his staff had no answer for the Saints’ game plans on either side of the ball.