We'll be live blogging all of the action here and at 12SD tonight. Drew Brees and the high flying Saints are hosting Matty Ice and the Atlanta Falcons Here are your particulars....

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (ESPN, 8:30pm)- Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden
Line: NO -11.5, O/U 55.5

Ed [Hochuli] sounds like my 5 year old daughter in a spelling contest...shaky voice and wet pants...wow... (Via Anon)

An absolute cluster**** of a 1st half in terms of decisions by the refs and teams....and yet, I'm entertained. (Via SS)

I agree wholeheartedly.

Score: Vikings 20 - Saints 10
Total Net Yards: Vikings 120 - Saints 251

10:35- Vikings ball to start and they'll get it at the 20. Jaws continues the praise of the Saints and we're underway with half two. Peterson for five and Berrian follows with 12 and a first down.

Frerotte runs for a solid gain of five, but a screen to Berrian goes for just one. 3rd and four....incomplete. And the Vikings will punt to Reggie Bush....who runs backwards to his own five. Dumb idea there.

After some of the comments by the crew in the first half, I think the Madden cruiser dropped some Johnny Walker off on the way to SD. (Via JG)

Bush for a few on first down, another play to him on second for nowhere and it's 3rd and 7....Brees hits Moore....first down. McAllister for two.....Brees deep to Henderson! Terrible pass into double coverage. Vikings blitz on third down....incomplete. Saints punt and we're slowing down now.

saints should go shotgun, 5 wide and just throw the damn...put bush in the slot..fuck... (Via Anon)

Did anyone else catch Chris Berman say the Red Sox were up 22-0? (Via SS)

No...dammit.

10:49- Taylor picks up a chunk and Wade gets the first. That's five catches for Wade. Peterson for three, incomplete on second and incomplete on third. Vikings punt.....Bush back again....close but he's knocked out.

Tex on first, Masterson coming in (Via Anon)

Let's switch over then, shall we? Vlad up, 2-0 Boston, runner on first, Top of the eighth. 0-2 quickly and the Sox fans are into it....1-2 on a slider outside....2-2 Fastball up....3-2 high again with the fastball....Walk. Tying runs are on base....Torii Hunter up.

Strike one, strike two on a foul ball.....WILD PITCH! Masterson crossed up Tek and that's not good. Runners move up and both are in scoring position.

(Saints driving in Vikings territory)

Fouled off. 1-2 still...2 outs....2 in scoring position. 2-2...high. SINGLE!!!!!! One in.....Vlad in! We're tied.

"Listen to the deafening silence in Boston."- Chip Caray

Okay enough of that nonsense. Back to Football....Saints are punting and we have a timeout. 3:25 left in the third and we're back to Baseball....

1-2 to Napoli....pop up and that's the inning. Onto the bottom of the eighth...2-2

And we're back. Vikes ball at their own 22. Peterson loses about five and he isn't doing anything tonight. Frerotte incomplete and it'll be 3rd and 14....Gus hits Wade but he's well short. Vikings to punt to Reggie Bush once again....

GONE! Bush to the house and there was an f'ing ridiculous block to spring him down the right side!!!!!

20-17 Vikings. WOW! Dunbar just destroyed Henderson. That'll be up shortly.

SEE!.. YOU!.. LATER!... was Tirico stealing Bob Carpenter's homerun call? (Via Anon)

Hahahaha good catch. I was too busy yelling to hear it.

11:09- Hicks out to the 30 and the Vikings will takeover from there. Play action....incomplete. FUMBLE! Vikes get it back. 3rd and 8.....Frerotte sacked! Wait, no play....false start. It's loud as hell in the Superdome. 3rd and 13....timeout Vikings.

"They not making no moves offensively."- Tony Kornheiser on the Vikings

Frerotte to Taylor and he's well short! P.I. on the offense is declined and Minnesota is punting....Bush back there again....

NO! Not again!!! Okay....wow. Bush trips at the 50, but still another great return.

Reggie Bush to the critics: Eat this BEE-YOTCH! (Via SS)

Okay....one punt return TD doesn't make up for still being down 3 to the Vikings, 29 yards on 9 carries and 2 fumbles (1 lost). But yes....very entertaining.

"It's only been 30 years since a crowd chanted Reggie...Reggie. You know Mr. October."- Mike Tirico

Oh and the third quarter ended somewhere in there as well. Brees to Henderson for a first, but Bush loses a yard on the next first. Allen bats down the pass on second down and it'll be third and long....

Almost picked off! Incomplete and the Saints will be attempting a 53 yarder with Gramatica?!?!?! Ummm....

WOW! He killed that one....that would have been good from 60....

20-20 Tie.

Angels try a squeeze and Varitek tags Willits, but loses the ball. He's called out and the Angels are arguing. Good call though....the ground caused the fumble on that one. Going to the bottom of the ninth tied at two.

11:23- Vikings ball from their own 28. Gus and A.P. get mixed up but the back still picks up seven. False start. And another one....2nd and 13 now. Incomplete after being pressured and it's 3rd and 13....

Dropped by Berrian over the middle and here comes Reggie Bush again....

SERIOUSLY?!?!?! Gone again! 27-20 Saints....why are they even kicking to him?!?!?!?

SOX WIN! Lowry singles in Jason Bay and you're ALCS is Boston and Tampa!!!!

11:31- Wow...that was a crazy ten minutes of Sports there wasn't it? Okay...let's settle back into this game. Screen to Peterson for nine, he gets none on second and it's 3rd and one....

"I know you're critical of Sports Radio but that's the topic tomorrow. Why would you kick to Bush a third time."- Tony Kornheiser
"I would ask the same question."- Ron Jaworski
"I'll give you the call-in number."- Tony Kornheiser

Frerotte deep to Berrian and he has it in Saints' territory! Gus is hurt and he looks to be in a ton of pain.

They have speed guns on the ball carrier? Weird. (Via Esse)

Yeah there was no way that Reggie Bush was running 20mph+ while jogging into the endzone. Jackson is in at QB and the Vikings run it of course....for nothing. He loses some yardage actually. 2nd and 13 from the 30. Jackson over the middle for a few and it's 3rd and 7. Make that Frerotte...he's back in...

First down Allison, but there's a flag on the play....OFFENSIVE P.I.! On Allison again. That was pretty blatant there. 3rd and 17 now....

Frerotte hit again but somehow he hits Berrian in the endzone for six!!! He even ran into Allison on the catch. Insane....

27-27 with 7:10 left.

Tonight is just weird. Reggie Bush is going to return a punt in overtime to win it. Calling it now. (Via Anon)

11:42- Seriously. The Saints should really just put Reggie Bush back for the kick. They don't and Pierre Thomas is SMACKED at the fifteen. Bush loses two on first down and a false start puts it at 2nd and 17. Brees hits Meachem for ten and it'll be third and seven....

Brees to Miller for a huge gain.....OHHHHHHHH! Ced Griffin destroys him downfield and I have no idea how Miller hung onto that ball.

"There are millions of moms out there saying you're not playing Football."- Tony Kornheiser

Whoooo man that was huge. Deuce for six on first down in Vikings territory and Bush picks up another two.....4 minutes left. 3rd and 1 here, the crowd is yelling for Deuce and he's in....he looks to have fallen forward past the mark....and he'll have it.

Deuce up the middle and he picks up one....under three minutes now. Second and nine....timeout Saints. After the stoppage, Brees throws incomplete and it'll be third and eight....

Blitz! Henderson doesn't come back and that's incomplete. Gramatica back out for a 46 yarder....

NO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that's the two minute warning!

Vikings ball at their own 37....Peterson for two and the clock is running. Wade gets a few and it's 3rd and 3. Frerotte deep to Berrian!!!! Pass interference on the Saints and that one takes it all the way down to the Saints' 14! Amazing. Going bold....

Peterson up the middle for two and the Saints call timeout. One left for New Orleans with 1:05 left. Peterson loses a yard and the Saints call their last timeout with 1 minute even to go. Peterson up the middle to the 12 again and it looks like there will be about 15 seconds left on the clock after a Longwell FG attempt.....

Make that 16 seconds and the attempt will be a 30-yarder....BANG! Right down the middle....13 seconds left....30-27 Vikings. Reggie Bush goes back and there's no way that they're kicking this to him. Stecker downs it at the 24 yard line and that should do it.

Brees deep, picked....and that will do it. What an unbelievable and ridiculous game. I think I hit record about 40 times tonight, so I'm going to go through all of those and try to get a video up for those who were watching Baseball. Thanks for hanging around tonight.

Final: Vikings 30 - Saints 27

"We got to get Jaws to a cold tub because he's completely exhausted" - Tony Kornheiser (Via JFein)

Me too.

Another Monday.....another live-blog. Tonight we get a seemingly explosive matchup between two NFC teams that are looking for their first signature win of the season. The Vikings need a win badly and beating the Saints in N.O. would be huge. The Saints need to hold serve to keep up with the other teams in the NFC South. It should be a good one.....see you around 8:15pm or so.

"I look for Adrian Peterson to either bust open this defense, wide open, for a big 200 yard day, or the Saints are really going to slow him down."- Emmitt Smith

Way to go out on a limb there Emmitt. Here's my prediction for the night....either the Vikings will win....or they won't.

"You look at the Washington Redskins. They haven't turned the ball over....on offense....yet this year."- Keyshawn Johnson

As opposed to the elusive, defensive turnover? Ooooh we get that new Kanye song as our bumper music tonight. Interesting.

Bryant McKinnie being back + the Saints rotten defense = Vikings start their winning streak (Via GMoney)

I may be one of the few that sees this game going lobsided for New Orleans. Brees and the Saints will get off to a big lead early and the Vikes won't be able to keep up in a shoot out. (J Fein)

Uh oh, we've got some dissension in our ranks. I'm pretty sure I've seen this Adrian Peterson "Unmasked" thing about eight times now. It's not bad, but you can only hear about someone's "Diesel" tattoo so many times.

"Diesel fuel is expensive, but that's worth it."- Chris Berman

"Heath Shuler is a congressman and Gus Frerotte is still playing Football! It's phenomenal!!!"- Tony Kornheiser

"Very few want to come back inside and take that blow."- Emmitt Smith

And that came from a former Cowboy.....I kid. Looks like the Rays have their Series wrapped up, so that's exciting. Griffey up, Griffey down, and complete with sweatshirts on....the Rays celebrate their first postseason series win in franchise history! Onto the ALCS for Tampa Bay.

"When we come back we will pick the game. Who will be jazzed tonight in Nawlins?"- Chris Berman

Picks:

Ditka- Vikings
Key- Saints
Cris- Saints
TJ- Saints
Boomer- Saints
Steve- Saints
Emmitt- Saints
Stuart- Saints

"Maybe he should have dated supermodels?"- Tony Kornheiser after comparing Drew Brees to Brady and Manning

Pretty sure that means the Vikings will win. Kickoff coming shortly and whoa Drew Brees is a pretty good motivator before the game. His whole "THIS IS NEW ORLEANS" thing gave me goosebumps.

Was I the only one disturbed by the dancing of those production guys? Um...party time is generally after the game... (Via JFein)

Haha....that was special.
____________________________

"That was great video of Drew Brees hyping up his team. It looked like he went to Ray Lewis Summercamp."- Tony Kornheiser

8:41- Kind of funny. Saints ball first and a huuuuuge hole for Pierre Thomas and he's into Minnesota territory on the kickoff. Great start. A reverse to Devery Henderson picks up seven on first down and Brees hits Bush for a first down.

"He could find you and me if he had to."- Tony Kornheiser to Jaws

He's probably right. Brees to Miller for six, Deuce up the middle for five and it's 3rd and one....Brees runs it and slides for the first. Incomplete though on first and second down and it's 3rd and 10 for the Saints....

"There's a rule that pertains to foot tangling?"- Tony Kornheiser
"No footsies."- Mike Tirico

Brees to Henderson. And it's six just like that for the Saints and boy was that easy.

7-0 New Orleans

When Tony says "you just can't overstate this" that means he will overstate it all night long. (Via Mal)

The Vikings: I'm so excited! I'm so...so scared. (Via SS Reporters)

Never gets old. Time to see if Frerotte is Fr'real and Tirico and Tony freak out about a lady sticking her hand into the mouth of a gator. Vikes ball at their own 33.

"She is about to perform animal dentistry and take the wisdom tooth out of the crocodile"- Tony Kornheier (Via Esse Quam Videri)

8:53- Peterson up the middle for two. Gus then hits Shiancoe over the middle for a first down. Good time there....McKinnie already helping out. Play action, and Berrian makes a nice grab and goes into Saints' territory. 1st down....

Incomplete on first down, Peterson for three on second down and it'll be third and six.....incomplete. Vikings to punt. Into the endzone and a touchback.

8:59- BREES TO HENDERSON! And that's a quick 50 yards to start a drive. All the way to the Vikings' 28. Brees tries Henderson again....incomplete. Reggie Bush off tackle for about nine and it'll be third and short....Bush outside and he'll get the first....flag....holding. Great run though by Bush. It'll be third and 11 after a Saints' timeout.

With all the gushing over Brees, can a Favre comparison be far away? (Via Mal)

Tony will do one out of spite.

"There are quarterbacks who can't do that against air"- Ron Jaworski talking about Drew's 30+ yards 72.7% completion average (Via Esse Quam Videri)

Interesting choice of words there. 3rd and 11....Brees with the pump and go to Meachem....he drops it. FG attempt for Gramatica....

BLOCKED! Wow....and Antoine Winfield is going to take it to the house. How about that for a change of momentum....

7-7.

"So far what we've seen from Reggie Bush is warning track power. At USC he was a home run hitter all the time. If he does that in the pros, he is a star of stars"- Tony Kornheiser

AA - Can we just save time typing and put Tony's comments from the game transcript on line, call it absurd and avoid carpal tunnel. (Via Mal)

I would love to be able to buy a transcript from ESPN each week. That would be fun to read through.

9:09- Thomas again to the 50 on the kickoff!

"Penetrate and get the arms up!"- Ron Jaworski

Sure thing Ronnie! Brees to Campbell for nine and then back to him again for the first. It's a tight end party as Billy Miller grabs a screen....how many TEs do the Saints have? 2nd and 3....Bush goes for 17. First down at the Vikes' 16.

Incomplete to Moore on first and Winfield nails Stecker on a second down screen for no gain. Third and long....Brees to Moore! Knocked away by Gordon!!! Great D there....Gramatica again....

Good! 10-7 Saints...three minutes to go.

ONSIDE KICK ATTEMPT! Vikings keep it. Wow that was tricky.

"This could be three or seven."- Tony Kornheiser on a FG attempt (Via 49er16)

Or two with a safety, Tony.

9:17- Vikings ball at the Saints' 40. A holding penalty on first down will put that at the 35, and Tony is giving us the Gus Frerotte "running into the wall" recap. I still laugh everytime I see it.

Peterson goes nowhere and the Saints D actually looks pretty good so far. That can't last. 3rd and 11....timeout Saints. Incomplete pass and Longwell will attempt a 53 yarder....

Nails it! We're back to even....10-10.

9:23- Vikings ball at their own 19 and Reggie Bush picks up three on first down.

Anyone else notice Tony is awfully easy with the "love" word. If MNF were Pee-Wee's Playhouse and the word of the day was "love" there would be crazy shit going on every five minutes. (Via Esse Quam Videri)

Hahahaha....Chairry's arm rests would be flailing all over the place.

That's the end of the first....10-10.

"That's 5,000 pounds of Williams' on the front line" - Tony Kornheiser (Via SS)

And what a way to start the second! Winfield just grabs the ball away from Drew Brees and it'll be Vikings' ball! Brees is shaking his hand a bit. Wow. Another momentum swing. 1st and goal from the five....

Eddie Gunz actually let the play go this time!!! (Via JFein)

Chester Taylor loses yards on a draw. Horrible play call there.

"Well under the average inside the redzone."- Ron Jaworski
"They're last!"- Tony Kornheiser

Hahahahaha. Got you!

3rd and goal now....incomplete but Will Smith was offsides. 3rd and Goal again from the 4 yard line....

Chester Taylor to Shiancoe?!?!?! Umm okay? It's still six though....

17-10 Vikings

9:33- And Pierre Thomas again to almost midfield! Just kick it out of bounds....jeez. Brees first down pass is batted down, but hits Moore for a first on second. Fumble....Brees gets it back. 2nd and 10 from the Vikings' 41....

"In some countries these guys are picking out furniture."- Tony Kornheiser on Brees and Sean Payton

That's something Tony might be apologizing for later in the game.

"Brees' relationship to Sean Payton has been described by everyone as perfect" - Tony Kornheiser

You know you're an awful announcer when you're analysis reads more like soft core porn than actual football analysis. (Via JFein)

Bush for another first and the Saints are moving it once again......

FUMBLE!!!! Bush drops the ball but he was taken down with a facemask! The Vikings picked it up and it will be their ball. Amazing that there was no call there and Sean Payton is flipping the hell out. As would I and Ed Hochuli is having yet another bad night.

9:44- Hoch and Co. miss another call and Sean Payton challenges it, but I'm sure Ed is hearing about the previous play more than this one. 2nd and 10 for the Vikings....and a screen is knocked down. 3rd and long....

Offsides on the Saints. We'll redo it at 3rd and 5....Berrian with the nice catch and that's a first down in Saints' territory.

"He [Hochuli] drops in my fantasy referee draft."- Tony Kornheiser

Ugh. Peterson gets his sixth carry and gets two yards and Wade drops an easy one. 3rd and long....incomplete. Vikings to punt and justice is somewhat served. Although I do lose 3pts in a fantasy league.

Ed Hochuli and crew badly blow yet another call... gee, what a shock. On Tuesday from his office he might as well already start writing an apology letter to all Saints fans; Ed, references to Bourbon Street and gumbo can only help. (Via Anon)

"You gotta take shots while the box is being loaded." - Ron Jaworski (Via SS)

9:52- Nice crotch shot of some guy dressed up like a luchador. And Jared Allen is hurt. Not Good....Brees hits Campbell over the middle for 22. Bush with another five and the Saints are at midfield in a hurry....8 minute to go. Brees throws incomplete on second down and it's 3rd and five....false start....3rd and 10....

Brees to Bush for a first....FUMBLE! Oh man....bounces right to the Saints. What a lucky mofo. 1st and 10 at the 41....

"They were dooing for Deuce McAllister."- Mike Tirico
"Dooing?"- Tony Kornheiser
"Deucing."- Mike Tirico

Hahahahaha. Deucing doesn't make that line better. 2nd and 10 for the Saints....Screen to Lance Moore but there's a hold on the play. 2nd and 20 now with 6 minutes to go. Brees to Bush and he's going backwards for a loss of four. 3rd and 22....Brees hits Meachem over the middle and he is juuuuuuust short of the mark. And Payton is obviously going for it....

Brees to Reggie Bush on play action and that was just too easy. 1st and goal at the nine. Vikings call timeout. Winfield takes out McAllister on first down.....

Interception! Moore hands the ball to Lieber and Minnesota takes over. Good lord....the Saints are killing themselves tonight.

10:05- Peterson for two on first down but Wade picks up a hard fought first on second. 251-48 yards for New Orleans and Minnesota is leading by seven. Insane. That's the 2-minute warning.

"They were in position to score a million times." - Tony Kornheiser

Hyperbole personified. Frerotte gets nailed but hits a wide open Bobby Wade for 17. Draw to A.P. and he gets a few, but Wade gets a first....or not. Terrible spot and it'll be third and one right at midfield.

Peterson up the middle and he just gets crushed by Vilma and fumbles! RULED DOWN!!! No way and the Saints are going to get screwed again here.....and now the fans see it. Wait...that's actually kind of close. He loses it...gets it back and then it goes out. Here comes the review....

Still the Vikings ball. Hochuli says that Peterson's hand was still under the ball and the Saints' fans are pissssssed.

"The strong hand wins the contest."- Ron Jaworski

Is that a bible quote I'm not aware of? Chester Taylor up the middle for five and Frerotte hits Wade for a first. The Vikings are playing for a FG and didn't they learn their lesson against the Colts??? Bad move....

Or not. Gus hits Allison for another first and he's out of bounds at the 19. And here's a run with Taylor up the middle and if I was a Vikings fan, I'd be losing my mind right now. :18 seconds left and no timeouts for Minnesota....

Gus to Berrian in the endzone....out of bounds. 3rd and 6....incomplete and almost picked off. Well at least they tried right? Here comes Longwell for another FG attempt....

Good and that'll make it 20-10 Vikings with :04 left in the half, which will for all intents and purposes. I'm going to catch up on some Baseball and see you in a new thread shortly.

Hasselbeck starts by throwing it to Ingram again for another first down, as I consider where this disturbing photo originated from. Alexander gets mauled behind the line of scrimmage yet again. Nate Burleson gets the next pass in. Hasselbeck gets sacked on 3rd down, and another punt. Qwest Field is not happy at all. NO gets pinned at their own 2. Ah, "Sweet Child of Mine."

Baseball note: Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealva just went three-run jackin' it on Livan Hernandez. Rox up 4-1.

Brees tosses for 17 out of his own end zone to the tight end. Bush gets bashed behind the line of scrimmage on his next rush. Stecker gets a screen pass to get some of those back, and I think it's 6 to go on third down here. No luck, and the Saints punt to Burleson, who tries to scramble away from a couple of tackles and winds up losing a yard or so on the return.

We've got 3rd and 3 after a drop off to the fullback for 7 and an incompletion. Weaver drops the 3rd down pass, and the Walrus sends in the punt team -- more boo-birds from Qwest Field, and Holmgren gives in -- but they have to blow a time out to do it.

That was kind of weird, seeing Pike Place markets hack at fish wearing Brees jerseys. 4th and 3, and they run Weaver, and it's short -- the Walrus' play-calling, suspect again. Hmmm....Hole's cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Gold Dust Woman" -- interesting choice for the bump, and despite my general dislike of Courtney Love, a great cover.

I'm pretty sure Coors got that commercial jingle from the "Our Country Clone Song Factory." Just as annoying, but much more anonymous.

Bush gets nothing on the next rush, and Andrea Kremer repeats the wire information we knew earlier about the allegations surrounding Reggie Bush and his NCAA days. The Saints' rushing game has gone kind of dead here, and they can't rush to run out the clock. Punt is a touchback, and we go out to the Police -- "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da."

Music video break: here's that "Gold Dust Woman" cover we heard earlier:



"It's more like the fish ate the chef! That's the metaphor."

Uh, thanks Al. - Oops Pow Surprise

I missed that; I saw an image of it coming back from baseball. Seattle goes no-huddle and starts hurling down field; they've really got no other measure of offense right now. The Saints will challenge that last completion ruling.

I'm just so used to seeing Peyton hawking something that I don't even bat an eye at how many commercials he's in any more. The call is reversed, so it's an incomplete pass as we return to coverage. Another incompletion, and we've got third down. Hasselbeck converts to in Saint territory to Ingram, and throws the next one to him again at the Saint 21. Flag on the play; illegal contact on the Saints -- first down.

Hasselbeck scrambles, hits Burleson, and the receiver runs and gets smacked up by Mike McKenzie -- but the ball crosses the plane. Brown's extra point is good. 28-17, Saints -- onside kick now, or still too early? Saints recover that onside kick, and Brees will get good field position to work with.

No rushing room for anyone on the first two plays, and Brees gets flagged for intentional grounding on 3rd down. Weatherford punts to Burleson, who fair catches at the 9.

"Winning always smells a lot better than losing." - JM
"It's a great deodorant." - AM.

Wow. Don't know quite what to say to that. Two consecutive passes for first downs by Seattle, then Roman Harper (I think I called him Fletcher earlier) gets his second sack of the game, forcing Seattle to take another time out. Weaver gets 20+ on a rush, but then Hasselbeck just goes all Sex Cannon on us, didn't even throw it near anyone on his own team -- and the Saints pick it off.

A couple of rushes, and the Saints can't pick up the 1st down -- now it's whether Holmgren can use his time well enough to get even close. Burleson takes the punt back to the Seattle 47.

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!! Possibly the worst pass EVER!!!!!! What was Hasselbeck doing????????????? Let me just close my eyes and launch this rainbow 80 yards in the air and hope it comes down near one of my guys. - Joe D

Hasselbeck got tired of the old in-out-in-out rhythm quarterbacking method, he just wanted to go long, hard, and deep.

Wow -- Seneca Wallace just reeled in a very nice catch at the 2 minute warning.

Is it just wrong that I'm dreading having the Broncos hosting the Steelers next week. I'm going to be a drunken mess for that game. Hasselbeck throws for the end zone and is incomplete; they're going to be aiming for it on pass plays from here on out. Wait, wait, wait -- they just ran a draw on 3rd down??? How dumb is that? Why not air it out for the back of the end zone -- and they throw it on 4th down for an incomplete and turn it over on downs????

This last series of play-calling has made no sense, and Al and John are perfectly right to beat this dead horse. That's your NFC West, people -- still the worst division in football. Guh...thank the football gods this game is over. All we're waiting for is the kneeling.

28-17, Saints will be your final score. Thanks to those of you who stuck it out with me. Join me next week as I brave live-blogging the team I pull for as the Broncos host the Steelers, and come on by Signal to Noise, if you're so inclined. Make sure to check in tomorrow for the Monday Night Football live-blog with AA, and have a good night!

John Madden would like you to know that he's not interested in this view of Reggie Bush and David Beckham, because he's opposed to doing things from the back.

Keith, that Worst Person in the NFL was absolutely horrific. Please kill the segment now. Please. Truly a "what the fuck" moment.

The Jones Soda rep that greenlighted that plug just committed suicide.

He's the lucky one. - RJ

Lance Moore hauls in a pass on first down, as New Orleans starts with the ball in the 2nd half. Mike Karney gets the carry and won't have the first. 3rd and inches. They don't get it on the next play, and Payton has brass ones by going for it this deep in his own territory -- and Brees gets it on the QB sneak. Bush gets a couple of yards on the 2nd down rush after getting stuffed on first. 3rd and 9 now, and David Patton hauls it in for a first down on the sideline. Brees wants to pick on the Seattle CBs badly, and he probably can do it as much as he likes right now, because the Seahawks are compensating to make sure Bush doesn't get his right now.

Bush burrows through for several more, and we hear more from Madden about Bush not being a power back. Aaron Stecker has gotten no yardage, yet Payton wanted him to bust it on 3rd and 3. The Saints punt it to Nate Burleson, who fair-catches on the 14 yard line. Pearl Jam's "Alive" -- what took you guys so long?

Hasselbeck goes to Ingram on 1st down and moves the chains again. Alexander gets nothing as the Saints stuff the line. Hasselbeck gets sacked when trying to rush out of the pocket, and is taken down again on the next play by the unblocked Roman Fletcher. Here comes the punt team. It rolls down to the NO 29.

4 and 1 on your own 30. Go for it.
4 and more than 3 on the 50. Punt

Makes sense. - Hugging Harold Reynolds

Well, it's easier to a get QB sneak with the 4th and inches than try and get 3 near the 50, but point taken.

Why does Shuan Alexander BLOW???? He is absolutely pathetic. How about you try gaining 50 yds you loser. I frickin start you over ADP and you treat me like this??????? - Joe D

This is a condition we call "Roto-Rage." It is particularly prevalent among the many fantasy football owners who have owned Daunte Culpepper over the years, and we are seeing more and more of this among owners of formerly sure things like Steven Jackson and Larry Johnson (LJ's 100+ game today notwithstanding, because that was against the Cincinnati Bungles.)

The Saints are driving it down once again, and David Patton gets into Seattle territory on 2nd and 1 by taking in another Brees pass. Brees overthrows Patton after an offside penalty on Seattle. Aaron Stecker is lucky just to get back to the line of scrimmage on the next rush.

"hey, you have to give a guy a little blow once in a while." - JM (via HHR)

Madden would be familiar with that concept; he does it on the air all the time to Favre, Brady, Peyton Manning, Romo, etc. And we've got a FUMBLE on the part of Reggie Bush, which the Seahawks recover. Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" takes us to break; I'm sure Kurt would have loved being the soundtrack to a sporting event.

Hasselbeck throws it to Pollard for a gain. Alexander rushes for a couple more, and the third is done. 28-10, Saints.

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.

Drew Brees, if you continue to suck tonight, just know you always have a gorgeous wife to go home to, despite being winless. Since I'm going to be watching this game for the entire duration of the Arizona-Colorado NLCS game, any updates from the commentariat would be most welcome. Oh, and a prediction? OK. Seahawks 24, Saints 13.

Is it just me or is every time a team is struggling or inconsistent, the coach tells the analyst (who tells us) that they basically just need to run the ball? I know this is a football truism, but after hearing Madden repeat it with regard to the Seahawks, I think we can just take that as a given now.

I'd forgotten that Mack Strong is done due to that spinal column injury -- Shaun Alexander is going to miss him big-time. Fullbacks do not get enough love in this league. Saints kick off to the Hawks, and they're at the 23. Short out to Bobby Ingram on the first play, and since Deion Branch is gone too, this is going to be a tough slug-out. Hasselbeck slugs another pass to Ben Obamanu (sp?) for a quick first down. Next passing attempt is incomplete. Alexander gets his first carry for five for a third and three.

"He's not a north-south guy, he's a weave guy." - JM, on Shaun Alexander. Saints sack Hasselbeck on third down, and they'll be punting -- except the snap is fucked and the fumble goes all the way into the end zone, where Aaron Stecker picks it up for the score. Olindo Mare's kick is good, and it's 7-0, Saints -- as we're taken to break with Soundgarden's "Spoonman" (Alice in Chains' "No Excuses" played during a montage pre-snap.)

I sense I will be recognizing damn near all of the bump music today, given that the "grunge" era was during my very, very impressionable years musically.

Josh Lewis takes the kickoff back to the Seattle 24, and the Seahawks will try this offense thing again. Alexander gets one yard on his next carry. We've got third and long right now with a time out.

I believe that is the only way the Saints could possibly score a TD. - Matt

The way the Seahawks look right now on offense, the Saints' O may not have to do much. Another side note: when Sir Charles enters the booth on TBS, if any of you watching could leave any particularly funny moments in the comments here? I bet AA would love it.

I like that Vizio commercial with Tomlinson -- every time he gets his helmet out of the closet to watch football, I laugh, even though the joke is kind of lame. Delay on the field since the Cable Cam has apparently fallen on to the field. I'm sneaking looks at baseball until they fix the damn camera.

OK, we're back after watching an incredible line drive DP hit by Eric Byrnes to Josh Fogg, and he got it to Troy Tulowitzki, who nearly turned another triple play for the Rox this year. Seattle has punted, and the Saints offense has the ball for the first time. Reggie Bush just ripped it through for 20+ on his first carry. Bush gets it again for a short swing pass on the next play. Aaron Stecker will run it on 3rd down, but not get enough. Madden's right, that was a shitty play call on 3rd and long in Seattle territory. Saints punt, and it's a touchback.

Alexander picks up a 1st by rushing outside the tackles on some good blocking. The Hawks are driving, and Hasselbeck underthrows Ingram on a first in NO territory -- which he really should have gotten a lot more on, seeing that Ingram was being covered by an LB. Hasselbeck's timing is off again on 2nd, and they've got 3rd and 10 right now. (Baseball update: Matt Holliday just went yard off Livan Hernandez.) Hasselbeck goes end zone for Nate Burleson, and Mike McKenzie knocks it down. Here comes Seattle's third punt....yawn. Fair catch at the 13 yard line.

A Flock of Seagulls for the bump music? Really?

I'm hoping Madden will say that the best way for these teams to get some O going is to recruit Eric Gagne - Anon

I don't care who you are, that's just funny (unless you're a Red Sox fan.) Aaron Stecker is rumbling and stumbling for a first down on his first catch, but there's a flag on the play -- and it's called on the Saints for an illegal man downfield, which means "forget that play ever happened." Bush gets four yards on 1st and 15.

Could this be the worst combination of live-blogs ever? - AA

At least you will have some form of offense tomorrow from Eli and Plaxico. I don't know where the offense is coming from here -- oh wait, maybe Reggie will do it, he takes a screen pass for 11 yards when he was probably not going to get a damn thing when the play started. After that first down play, the Saints get stuffed twice and we've got another third and long.

"The Saints got nothing on Lofa Tatupu." - JM
"Not even half a loaf." - AM

Bizarre play as Brees throws to David Patton, and Jordan Babineaux punches it out -- but the Saints get the ball recovered further down. NO gets flagged for holding, so move it back 10 yards. Devery "Butterfingers" Henderson has an incomplete pass thrown his way. Brees hurls over to Lance Moore, who took Henderson's starting spot.

Reggie is picking up some serious rushing yards right now, and all we're hearing is about how he's not going to be your normal power guy, but he can run inside. If I'm not mistaken, isn't Seattle's D-line and linebackers one of the smallest of those groups in the league? It should be easier for Bush to break out, if that actually is the case. Never mind. He gets stopped at the line of scrimmage on the next play. Saints 7, Seahawks 0, as the first quarter ends.

Hey there, S2N back with you again, watching Pats-Cowboys on the Sopcast (damn CBS giving my TV OAK-SD) after watching it at the sports bar for a few hours (I forgot how many goddamned Raider fans there are in my part of California, but I wonder where all the Cowboy lovers came from. There were cheers every time Dallas scored that went the length of the bar. Does Patriot hate reach that level these days?)

Oh good, we just got switched over to NE-DAL, so we can watch the rest of the fourth quarter in peace. Anyway, we'll be here for Saints-Seahawks, which probably looked real good to NBC a while ago but not so much right now. So, leave your thoughts about the day's action, especially Pats-Cowboys, in the open thread (as well as admitting how many of you will be watching D-backs/Rockies instead), and I'll see you for the first quarter.

Also, Wes Welker is saving my ass in fantasy this week with Peyton Manning on the bye. I am loving this.