I don't know why I like this picture of Shaun Alexander playing chess. I just do. Starting with a 2nd and 14, and Bush gets nearly all of that on the next rush, with a flag added for a 15-yard variety of face mask. Saints will have first and goal. Brees tosses it to Eric Johnson -- the TE who recovered the Patton fumble -- and it's end zone for New Orleans. Mare's kick is up and good, and it's 14-0, Saints -- tell me you saw this coming and I'd call you a liar.

Josh Wilson takes the kickoff from the Saints back, and this doesn't look good for Seattle right now, in terms of offensive consistency. All pass and no run right now. Alexander gets a couple and then Hasselbeck gets the first down rushing. Alexander falls on the next play, and the 12th man at Qwest Field has the boo-birds going already. Burleson pulls in a catch to set up a 3rd and 4. Burleson brings in another one to move the chains. The Seahawks get another first down on an NO illegal contact penalty.

"Matt Hasselbeck, he's a system guy, a rhythm quarterback." - JM. I am left to ponder this: Hasselbeck is a Boston College (Catholic school product), and he has three kids. Of course he's a rhythm quarterback!

Seahawks still moving it, now inside the Saints' 30. We have a Seneca Wallace sighting, as Hasselbeck is nearly picked after Obamanu falls on the pass play. Yet another pass is almost picked by the Saints, and Josh Brown will be coming on for a field goal. Brown's kick is blocked, and this is his first miss since Week 14 last year (so sayeth Al.)

Bush rushes for four on the Saints' first play of this possession. He then lines up outside and takes the screen for a first down with 17 yards gained. Next play is a Brees roll out pass to fullback Mike Karney for a few. Bush gets the next first down on another pass over the middle, and who needs wide receivers when you can split him wide right now? Reggie hits for 22 more on an outside rush that started outside the Seattle 20, and the Saints have a first and goal. WR Lance Moore gets the end-around and heads in for six.

Mare's kick is up and good. 21-0, Saints.

"Just when you thought the Saints were dead, out of the crypt they come." - AM.

The Seahawks bring the kickoff out to their own 37 or so. Hasselbeck hurls another incompletion downfield. Ingram takes in the next pass for a 1st.

What we need is a Reggie chant.

REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE! - Anon

Much appreciated (REG-GIE! REG-GIE! REG-GIE!), but I think we'd be better off with some form of life from the Seattle offense.

The Seahawks are getting into Saints territory more often than not, but they're just not doing a hell of a lot when they get there -- and if we get another reminder from Madden about Hasselbeck being a rhythm quarterback, something's getting thrown at the T.V. "Rhythm quarterback" should immediately translate to "you are unable to adjust at all." He then hurls another one for a crucial first down inside the Saint 20 for Seattle. Ben Obomanu takes the next pass in the end zone, and finally, the Hags are on the board.

Brown is up and good, 21-7, Saints. Maybe this might be worth watching after all.

Brees starts the next possession with a five-yard pass to Patton, and the two-minute warning is here.

Your mom is on my chalk Al Michaels - AA

That's a new one. Nice bomb from Brees to Patton for a big gain, and the Saints are quickly back in Seahawk territory. 36 yards on that one. Marques Colston drops a screen pass -- and I swear that's the first time I've heard his name called all night. Patton reels in another one for a first down at the Seattle 20. Patton gets another one at the 13, and gets out of bounds to stop the clock. 1st and goal as Eric Johnson catches the ball at the 3.

"That pass protection is special." - JM. Colston bobbles and drops a TD catch. Encroachment on Seattle before they could stop the clock, and NO gets closer. Incomplete to Johnson, and 3rd and goal comes. Colston nabs this pass from Brees, and it's another six. Kick is good.

Mike Holmgren looks angry enough to rush anyone who comes through his ice floe. Goo goo ga joob. 28-7, Saints, as the half continues to wind down.

The Seahawks are tossing it downfield and have gotten to just outside the Saint 30.

Devery Henderson owes me half of my fantasy league entrance fee....- Hugging Harold Reynolds

I dropped him three weeks ago. Inexplicable play calling on throwing a pass short of the end zone that was incomplete. Brown is on to try the field goal, and Sean Payton tries to freeze the kicker -- Madden is calling him out, saying Payton told him he wasn't going to pull a Shanahan. Still doesn't work, as Brown's kick is good. 28-10, Saints, and that will likely be the halftime score.

And it is. I'm gonna check on some baseball and see you in the third quarter thread.

John Madden was just talking about faking timeouts. He said he doesn't like it because it comes from behind the kicking team and...

"I don't like doing things from the back."

So many horrible images... - Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson

Nightmare fuel.