NEW ORLEANS (AP)—If Sean Payton’s New Orleans Saints are inclined to
reflect back on anything from 2011, it’s not so much their recently concluded
record-breaking regular season as their disappointing first-round playoff loss
to Seattle last January.

“You understand in our game that when you line up in the postseason,
there’s a finality to it,” Payton said Monday as the Saints began preparations
for their playoff opener against Detroit.

“There’s a lot of things that were positive and a lot of things that were
accomplished with the season we just had, and yet the reason you try to win as
many games as you can is to prepare yourself for what we’re getting ready to
accomplish now,” Payton continued. “I don’t think you reflect now. You are
still driven by the challenge ahead.”

The 2011 Saints might be better than the 2009 team that won the Super Bowl.
Both were 13-3 in the regular season, and this season’s squad set several NFL
and franchise records, mostly on offense.

The Saints 7,474 offensive yards set a new league mark by 399 yards. Drew
Brees’ 5,476 yards passing was the most for any quarterback by more than 200
yards, while his 468 completions and 71.2 completion rate also set new league
highs. Darren Sproles’ 2,696 combined yards rushing, receiving and on returns
also established a new NFL single-season best.

Those records were only a sampling of the history New Orleans made this
season, though all that will mean a lot less if they suffer an early exit from
the playoffs.

Last season, the Saints won 11 games and were expected to roll past a
Seahawks squad that was the first division winner in NFL history with a losing
record. The Seahawks wound up celebrating an upset, and the Saints like to think
now that they learned from it.

“It helps that you’ve been through it and experienced a tough loss in a
game you were expected to win in a crucial time,” safety Roman Harper said.
“If you don’t show up and play with a sense of urgency and discipline, a team
can beat you. … If you don’t come prepared with a sense of urgency, you will
get your tail kicked in this league.”

The Saints have been building momentum for two months now, winning eight
straight games, including six by double digits. They’ve outscored their last
three opponents 132-53 combined. Two of those victories came against division
foes who had been playing well lately in Atlanta and Carolina.

On Sunday against the Panthers, the Saints could have begun resting starters
early in the second half, when their chances of improving their No. 3 seeding
diminished as second-seed San Francisco pulled away from St. Louis. Instead, the
Saints chose an aggressive approach that turned a one-score halftime lead into a
45-17 blowout.

In the process, they solidified their credentials as a playoff favorite,
even if they didn’t get a top-two seeding in the NFC and will have to win three
postseason games to get back to the Super Bowl.

“Sean’s been saying for a couple of weeks now that if we just continue to
play like we’re playing and continue in the path we’re on, that a lot of teams
are not going to want to face us,” Harper said. “You can say that now, but
then if we go out and lose a game, it doesn’t really mean anything.”

Saints right tackle Zach Strief also was guarded about the significance of
the Saints’ recent sting of lopsided wins.

“This is a game that can turn quickly on you,” Strief said. “Us playing
well the last few weeks doesn’t give us anything but confidence going in. It
doesn’t give us a win.”

Payton said he was happy to see his players being recognized both for
individual and team records. For now, though, his message to his players is that
they need to maintain the team chemistry that helped them win big lately and
forget about the accolades already accrued—at least until the postseason ends.

“It’s such a team sport,” Payton said. “It seems like the last two weeks
there’s been a lot of talk about individual accomplishments, as there should be
with the passing record, Darren Sproles. … (But) this is the time of year when
the focus really shifts to us playing our best football as a team.”

After obliterating the NFL record books this year, the New Orleans Saints’ offense is now taking over the Pro Bowl too. For the first time in franchise history, five offensive players were invited to the annual all-star game, including first-time selections tight end Jimmy Graham and offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod.

They joined quarterback Drew Brees and guards Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans, thanks to a combination of votes by fans, players and coaches. Graham, Evans and Nicks are starters. No defensive players or special teamers made the team.

This is the third straight year the Saints have had at least five Pro Bowlers, though they’re all hoping to skip the game to play in the Super Bowl instead, like they did two years ago. This year’s game will be played in Honolulu on Sunday, Jan. 29, one week before Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

It’s no surprise that the Saints landed five offensive players in the game – including Brees, who was selected for the fifth time in the last six years. Brees broke Dan Marino’s NFL record for the most passing yards in a single season on Monday night, reaching 5,087 yards with one game to spare. And the entire offense is on pace to break the 2000 St. Louis Rams’ NFL record of 7,075 yards in a season, among other marks.

Graham also has a shot at NFL history. He needs 68 yards in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Carolina Panthers to break Kellen Winslow’s 31-year-old NFL record of 1,290 receiving yards by a tight end. However, Graham also needs to pass up New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is six yards ahead of him right now during a league-wide tight end revolution.

In just his second NFL season, Graham has put together one of the most prolific seasons by a tight end in NFL history, with 91 catches for 1,213 yards and 10 touchdowns.

 

“Being selected to represent the NFC team in the Pro Bowl is a tremendous honor,” Graham said in a statement released by the team. “If you look around the NFC, you see a ton of amazing and talented players at tight end and to be thought of in that company by my peers, the head coaches and the fans who follow the NFL is something I take seriously. I think it goes without saying that there are many people to thank–starting with my position coach, Terry Malone, our offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and Coach (Sean) Payton. None of this would be possible without working with guys like Drew Brees, our running backs and receivers and the guys in the tight ends room. David Thomas has been a great mentor, as was Jeremy Shockey, and I have learned a lot from each guy who has worked with me over the past two seasons. My focus right now isn’t on going to Hawaii, it’s on the Carolina Panthers and getting ready for the playoffs, but I think any guy who gets named to the Pro Bowl realizes that it’s a heck of compliment and I am grateful and humbled by it.”

Bushrod’s selection was a breakthrough moment for the fifth-year pro and third-year starter. The recognition is certainly due after he’s flown mostly under the radar in his young career. He has only allowed three sacks this season while protecting Brees’ blind side.

Evans and Nicks are widely considered the NFL’s best guard tandem, thanks to the way they create a secure pocket for Brees to step into, as well as the way the block for run plays and screen passes. This is the third straight Pro Bowl selection for Evans and the second straight for Nicks.

The list of Pro Bowl alternates was not immediately released, though it’s likely the Saints could earn more invites down the road when replacement players are needed.

The New Orleans Saints are on pace to set a bushel of NFL records for offensive yardage this season, but guard Carl Nicks said he’d rather count all of ‘em up after the Saints win a second Super Bowl. Even though the Saints won it two years ago, he said they aren’t satisfied.

“The thing about winning the Super Bowl is you kind of want another one and then another one,” Nicks said. “It’s kind of like the most addictive drug you’ve ever had and you need that feeling again. I’ve been going through withdrawals the last year.”

Minneapolis — Jimmy Graham has been the high-flying newcomer and Marques Colston has been the big-play mainstay, but Lance Moore is quietly putting up big numbers at receiver for the Saints.

Moore had five catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He is now second on the team in touchdown receptions with eight, one behind Graham. Moore has 50 catches for 571 yards this season.

“Lance Moore is having a great year,” quarterback Drew Brees said Sunday. “All of our skill-position players, receivers, backs, tight ends, they all complement each other so well. They all understand that each game you never know whose opportunity it’s going to be. You never know who is going to have the big day. Lance and Marques may had had the big yardage, but everybody came up big today.”

Moore is in his sixth season with the Saints and in that time has become a guy Brees trusts to get a first down, or the tough yardage, or to be in a favorable matchup.

“The more confidence he has in me, I think the more balls I’m going to get on the field,” Moore said. “We’ve worked together now for a long time. We work together each and every day after practice, as all the receivers do. Hopefully we can just continue to get better.”

INJURIES AND INACTIVES: Zach Strief left the game for a few plays with an injured finger, but came back and seemed to be fine after the game. … Tracy Porter was limited at defensive back, and according to Coach Sean Payton, Porter was used sparingly because of the wrist injury he suffered last week and was not injured in this game. … Right guard Jahri Evans missed a few plays when he injured his left knee. Trainers put a sleeve on it and he came back into the game. He also seemed to be moving OK after the game. … Inactive for the game were: cornerback Leigh Torrence, running back Mark Ingram, linebacker Jonathan Casillas, tackle William Robinson, tight end Michael Higgins, receiver Adrian Arrington, defensive end Turk McBride.

QUICK HITS: The Saints had two first-half turnovers, breaking a long streak. Graham’s fumble in the first quarter was the first by the Saints in 17 quarters, dating to the Tampa Bay game Nov. 6. … Remember ambush? The famous onside kick to start the second half of Super Bowl XLIV was tried again, but this time the Saints didn’t recover. It bounced around, squirted through the front line of the return team and the Saints had a couple chances to get it, but didn’t. … John Kasay missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter and it was his first missed kick since the Atlanta Falcons game Nov. 13. He is 27 of 32 for the season. … Tight end John Gilmore caught a touchdown pass, making him the ninth Saints player with a touchdown reception this season. In the Super Bowl season of 2009, 10 players caught TD passes. Overall, 13 Saints have scored a touchdown. … The Saints had four sacks, Harper, Tom Johnson, Junior Galette and Jeff Charleston. … The Saints dominated in first downs, getting 36 to Minnesota’s 12 and total yardage at 573 to 207. They also added to their league-leading third-down efficiency percentage by converting on eight of 11. Red-zone efficiency numbers are going up as well, as they were 5 of 5 against Minnesota. … The Saints’ offense is closing in on the all-time record for offensive yardage. The 2000 St. Louis Rams had 7,075 yards. After getting 573 yards against Minnesota, the Saints have 6,394, needing 682 to break the record. The team record is 6,571 set in 2008.

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Kevin Spain can be reached at kspain@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3480.

What should be appreciated most about these Saints, if it isn’t already atop the list, is they’ve made winning so routine that significant milestones are expected, rather than marked by second-lines and songs.

On Sunday, the Saints posted their third consecutive 10-win season, a first in franchise history, and they also clinched their third consecutive playoff berth, something that had happened only once before (1990-92).

Yet, it would be hard to know that that level of achievement had been obtained at all with this team and its core of players who simply believe that this is the way it’s supposed to be.

“Unfortunately, because of the history of the franchise, I don’t think that doing things that have never happened here is a cause for immediate celebration,” New Orleans right tackle Zach Strief said. “Now, if it’s two straight Super Bowls, yes.

“But other than that, we’ll wait for the big celebration.”

It’s hard to counter that logic.

And, too, another cause for the muted response is that New Orleans (10-3) is in a heated playoff race, tied with the San Francisco 49ers for second place in the NFC, trying to secure a first-round bye and home field advantage for a divisional playoff game.

As untouchable as the Saints have been this season in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, hosting a playoff game after a bye would be huge. And if, somehow, the Green Bay Packers finally hiccupped and lost in a playoff game, that result (coupled with a Saints win) would allow New Orleans again to host the NFC championship game.

So it’s understandable that the focus for Saints players is on the “now,” and it doesn’t allow much time for reflection.

But when the time comes to reflect, they’ll like what they see in the mirror.

New Orleans has become one of the league’s model franchises, among its most consistent winners, a legitimate pick to reach the Super Bowl each season since it made its stunning run to the NFC title game in 2006, Coach Sean Payton’s first in New Orleans.

No, Payton’s Saints haven’t been so fruitful that they have been able to erase the memories of their predecessors. References to the Mike Ditka era are rare nowadays, but few have forgotten how helpless and directionless the Saints were.

But those remembrances give Saints fans all the more reason to celebrate the new franchise order, which places New Orleans among the most attractive free agent destinations and successful teams in the league.

“That’s a big accomplishment, especially with the history of this team,” Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “This being the first time we have done that, jump-start the organization and become a winning culture, I think that’s big for us.”

Absolutely, it’s big.

But not so big that it has been overcelebrated, or even celebrated as much as you’d think it would be in New Orleans, where accomplishments spontaneously combust into festive occasions more than anywhere else on Earth.

That’s what happens when success becomes the rule, rather than the exception. Jenkins, in fact, has no idea what it’s like to be on a ragtag Saints team, no concept what it’s like to play meaningless games for a month to finish out the season.

As a rookie, he won the Super Bowl. Last season, he was in the playoffs — though the result, at Seattle, was one to bury. And this year he’s back in the playoffs, likely as a member of the NFC South Division champions for the second time in three years, eagerly anticipating another postseason appearance so the team can atone for the shocker last season in Seattle.

Because he joined the program during its ascension, the New Orleans he knows is one that understands winning, and little else.

“Really, this city has become spoiled really quickly,” Jenkins said. “We feel the pressure. It has changed really fast as far as the culture.

“They expect us to win 10-or-plus every year. It all happened with the Super Bowl. It’s good when expectations are that high.”

They’re so high that milestones can pass virtually unnoticed. There’s no bigger sign of excellence than that.

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John Deshazier can be reached at jdeshazier@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3410.