ALL OF THE NOISE pic.twitter.com/TBnfMDksAm
— Maddy Hudak (@MaddyHudak_94) October 31, 2021
The New Orleans Saints executed a master class in chaos in Sunday’s 36-27 divisional win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The nostalgic atmosphere invigorated by Mark Ingram’s return in full roar by the time he finished leading the Who Dat chant. The press box was quite literally shaking by the game-sealing interception, and the energy electric. Hear it yourselves in the video embedded above.
That uproar is well-deserved for a team that’s done nothing but defy expectations in their ascent to a 5-2 record. The Saints continue to balk in the face of adversity and, arguably, thrive in it.
New Orleans has already faced both teams in last year’s NFC title game, who combine for a 13-3 record, whose quarterbacks hold 8 MVP awards — and they defeated both the Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers. This upset was led by a third-string quarterback with no backup behind him on the active roster. And by a defense that’s unquestionably Super Bowl-caliber.
The adversity that shaped the rebirth of the team in 2006 has remained an invaluable constant (and arguably their best competitive edge). Several season trends finally paint a clearer picture through Week 8. Here’s what stuck out on both sides of the ball:
