The game started off in a sloppy manner for both teams with an interception, a fumble, a taunting penalty, and clipping. At the end of the first quarter I wasn't so sure we were the Super Bowl team the press has made us out to be. We settled down in the second half however and things started going our way. Simmons, Trufant, Hamlin -- just awesome to watch them do their thing! Those guys can get you fired up on a single play, and then when they do it again you're ready to pull on some pads and join in on the fun!!!

I think the play when Bobby Taylor knocked the ball loose and it was recovered by Ken Lucas was just incredible! Good heads up action to make something out of a defensive play! Too many times in the past we'd force the fumble but not be able to recover it, or get a penalty in doing so thus negating the play. Several times in this game we capitalized on a good defensive play; maybe not with a score but with positive momentum. Same goes for the Boulware interception later in the game. That was an acrobatic stunt to bring in that ball!

I thought Darrell Jackson played a great game and Bobby Engram was a force, but I was disappointed with Koren Robinson's drops. A couple of those were right to him.

Shaun Alexander had a great game -- let's hope his knee injury isn't serious. Maurice Morris filled in without missing a step (Didn't it look like he was having fun?!) and Mack Strong was dependable as ever.

Alex Bannister had a fantastic special teams tackle, showing us why he was named captain of Special Teams. I don't mind complimenting Ken Hamlin again on terrific tackling!

I think we'll do well to keep in mind that New Orleans is a team that's struggling right now. We shut down Deuce McAllister but even so the Saints were at a loss to come up with an alternative game plan. We can take this win and run with it but I don't think it's time to get cocky. Let's beat Tampa Bay and then San Francisco, and then we can spare a few minutes for gloating! :-)

This year I'm doing a week by week analysis on Ken Hamlin. It's here!

As always, your comments are welcome! Send them to me and I'll post them here!