NEW ORLEANS — The Who Dat nation has crowned this year’s best local tailgating crew to compete in the Bing National Tailgating Championship in the Dallas Super Bowl week.Drago’s Charbroiling Engine Company took home the title on Sunday, beating three other teams in a heated competition outside the Superdome.“We have charbroiled oysters, spinach, beer, Coke, and lots of fun. (But the) most important thing we’ve got is lots of spirit and lots of fun,” Tommy Cvitanovich, of Drago’s, said.Commissioner of Tailgating Joe Cahn called the event a New Orleans-style party full of food, fun and games.“We’ve got people having fun, combined with food, fun and music. It doesn’t get any better than this,” Cahn said. “It’s New Orleans at it’s finest. People are getting together, socializing and tailgating like no other.”

Click here to see the video on WDSU.COM

Great video from the Sean Payton show.

The Sean Payton Show Episode 213_Part 3 from Horizon Entertainment on Vimeo.

By Pat Yasinskas

NEW ORLEANS — I’m heading downstairs for interviews and will be back in a bit with much more. But first, here’s Rapid Reaction on the New Orleans Saints’ victory against St. Louis.

What it means: I can’t say it was New Orleans’ best game of the year because the Rams aren’t the best of measuring sticks. But this one was pretty encouraging. The Saints put together a solid game in all areas, which is something they’ve had trouble doing much of the year. If you can do that it December, it’s a pretty good sign that your season is headed in a good direction.

Read the rest of Pat’s story here.

New Orleans Saints return man Courtney Roby has been taken to Ochsner

New Orleans — Kickoff return man Courtney Roby was carried off the field in the final 1:37 of the first half in the New Orleans Saints game against the St. Louis Rams.

The update was that he has feeling in his extremities and was alert when taken off the field. He was sent to Ochsner for observation.

Roby had returned a kickoff after the Rams had scored on a 45-yard field goal to cut the Saints lead to 14-6 and was hit in the head by a tackler’s knee. He fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Rams.

Story from NOLA.

Kevin Spain, The Times-Picayune

New Orleans — The New Orleans Saints kept pace with the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons on Sunday with a 31-13 win against the NFC West-leading St. Louis Rams.

From the start, the Saints dominated this game with accurate passing of Drew Brees, who was 25-of-40 for 221 yards and three touchdowns; big catches of Marques Colston, two touchdowns; and good running by Chris Ivory, who had 47 yards rushing on seven carries before leaving the game with some type of leg injury.

Read the rest of the story here.

James Varney, The Times-Picayune

To hear New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams tell it, a good barometer of what happens in Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams will be found on one of his favorite spots on the field: One yard behind the center.

That roving mark is one Williams has long contended is a critical battlefield in football. The unit that controls it the most has the best chance of moving the football or thwarting said movement.

And while the Saints might not have the kind of gaudy stack stats put up by some defensive lines, they are dominating the space right behind the center and guards, which bottles up the quarterback and is the first domino in terms of stuffing the run.

Read the rest of the story here.

Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints, at 9-3, have a much better record than the St. Louis Rams, who are 6-6. And many would argue the reigning Super Bowl champions are a much better team.

However, if the playoffs started today, this matchup would be taking place up north, with the fourth-seeded Rams hosting the fifth-seeded Saints in the wild-card round.

It might not seem fair, but it’s what the NFL teams have decided they want.

Read the rest of the story here.

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James Varney, The Times-Picayune

After an unexpectedly lengthy, nine-game absence, New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas is slated to be back in action Sunday when the Saints host the St. Louis Rams.

Susan Poag/The Times-Picayune

“That’s the plan,” Coach Sean Payton said. Asked if that meant Thomas would play, Payton paused and replied, “that’s the plan.”

Thomas, for his part, clearly thinks he’ll be in the mix. He was all smiles at his locker room, and said he feels able to do all the things that made him both the team’s leading rusher in its championship 2009 season as well as a potent receiver coming out of the backfield.

Read the rest of the story here.