I dedicate this to Hartley!

Time to put this defeat behind us, and get focused on going 3-1 by stomping the Panthers.

Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

Atlanta’s Matt Bryant hit a 47-yard field goal with 1:55 left in overtime to lead the Falcons to a 27-24 win against archrival New Orleans Saints.
The game was one of big numbers put up by both teams.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns, but he had two interceptions.

Receiver Lance Moore had his best day as a pro with 149 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Atlanta’s Matt Ryan threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns and tight end Tony Gonzalez caught eight passes for 110 yards.

Read the rest of the story here.

James Varney, The Times-Picayune

No new injury reports were released Saturday, which means most of the players who were limited at practice this week will probably play Sunday when the New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons.

In the case of the Saints, that means tight end Jeremy Shockey, who dinged a quad at practice Thursday, remains probable, as Coach Sean Payton listed him Friday.

And for the Falcons, running back Michael Turner, who has been nursing a groin injury but nevertheless participated fully in practice Thursday and Friday, is expected to go. Wide receiver Michael Jenkins, another starter, is still listed as questionable.

Payton had already made it clear that cornerback Randall Gay, who suffered a concussion at San Francisco and was not cleared through his independent examination, is scratched. So is linebacker Anthony Waters, who is nursing a hamstring injury. Running back Reggie Bush’s broken tibula has him out for an undetermined number of weeks.

Read the rest of the story here.

Some interesting videos from the Who Dat Nation. The first one I love watching the 4 guys in front who were celebrating when they thought Hartley’s kick was blocked and no good. Nice to hear the Who Dat chant after!

Who Dat Nation needs to crank it up Sunday.

Remember the new Who Dat Cheer tradition Drew started. Wonder who the honorary captain will be who will lead the cheer?

Pigs have flown. Hell has frozen over, and the Who Dat Nation hasn’t stopped partying since the Superbowl. Come celebrate the Black and Gold when Shine Productions returns to Le Chat Noir for Bless Ya, Boys: Who Dat Nation.
It’s all about the fans as Deke and Bobby lead the way in a wild, spirited pep rally parade. Rita and Tom Benson will also be there to show off their Super Bowl bling. Witness the real story behind Rickey Jackson’s Hall of Fame Speech and see Bum, Archie, and Drew like you’ve never seen before. Even Buddy D and Jesus make an appearance in Who Dat Nation, , a fun, fast, and loving tribute to our Saints’ fans and the team they love.
Written by and Starring : Barry Lemoine, Wes Canon, Christian Bordelon, Will Schneider, Ron Blanchard and Katherine Lemoine.

October 14, 21 & 28
Performances: Thursdays at 8pm

Tickets: $26 (inc. $5 drink credit and reserved table)
Shine Productions presents Bless Ya, Boys: Who Dat Nation-
It’s All About the Fans.

Mark Lorando, The Times-Picayune

When Saints players and coaches fall short of our expectations, we let them hear it. So when Saints fans play poorly, it’s only fair that we be subjected to the same sort of criticism.

And let’s face it, my fellow Who Dats: Right now, two games into the 2010 season, we stink.

The Saints are 2-0. Saints fans are 0-2.

We followed up an embarrassingly flat crowd-noise performance in the Sept. 9 season opener with a spoiled, whiny, narrow-minded, loser-mentality, negative-Nancy overanalysis of Monday’s miraculous win in San Francisco.

If pundits covered fans the way they cover teams, some “SportsCenter” anchor would be asking right about now: “Has success gone to the Who Dat Nation’s head?”

And his sidekick would answer: “Clearly. Let’s go to the videotape.”

Read the rest of the story here.

Ed Anderson, The Times-Picayune

Citizens of the Who Dat Nation may have to wait another month or so to get the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl license tags, state officials said Friday.

Office of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman Michelle Rayburn said Saints officials have approved the redesign of the speciality plate in the past two days after rejecting the first design several weeks ago. The approved version, in black and gold, includes the team’s signature fleur de lis and the words World Champions incorporated with the Super Bowl XLIV logo across the bottom.

Read the rest of the story here.

Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune
Here’s my First Take:

I realize the coverage of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees can be a bit syrupy these days.

The Onion even took a satirical jab at New Orleans’ love affair with the Saints star quarterback in a recent feature.

But it’s hard not to genuflect on Brees. He’s playing the position as well as anyone in the history of the game.

Brees isn’t off to the high-flying start he had a year ago but he’s still playing at a very high level.

Here are some interesting numbers about him as he heads into the NFC South showdown against the Falcons on Sunday at the Superdome:

Read the rest of the story here.