Boldly going where no Saints team has gone before

8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0. There's 42 of 'em for as many years as it took us to get to eight straight wins to start the season.

For the third straight week the Saints spot the opposing team a sizable lead, this one 17-3 against the Panthers before halftime, but come out ahead with a butt-kicking win, 30-20.


Darren Sharper, celebrating here, is happy about keeping Carolina to just three points in the second half after the Panthers' rushing attack ran roughshod over the Saints in the first half. But that's been the way it goes these past few weeks, first with Miami and its Wildcat, then Atlanta and bubble butt Micheal Turner, and today Carolina and DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.


But just like the previous two weeks, the Saints adjusted to the run and the offense and Drew Brees found their groove.

The defense mobbed running back Tyrell Sutton in the second half. As for action photos, this is about as good as it gets on my end. I get shots from the AP and I think the one photog they sent to the game was busy eating Dome Dogs and shooting Saintsations, a la "Thib" of Houma style. Yeah you right!

Jshox and Marques Colston are like Tomahawk cruise missiles in this offensive juggernauts's weaponry, but both were off today with dropped passes, but better believe me and Marky C are going to the Pro Bowl.


By the way, did you see when jshox got called for offensive pass interference when it was obviously a foul on the defense? I could've sworn that ref was from a stupid SEC officiating crew.

Check out Will Smith -- all you can see is his hands on Jake Delhomme's shoulders -- sacking Carolina's quarterback for a fumble and turnover. Smith had two more sacks today for 6.5 on the season thus far. Playa in the house!

Here is jshox's confessional: when Delhomme was a Saint, about seven years ago, I once chanted with the Dome crowd "We want Jake!" during a poor Aaron Brooks performance, one of many at that point after the Breaux Bridge Bomber -- at least that's what I called him -- had shown a series of brilliance during his backup play when Brooks was hurt. In fact, those chants came against Carolina in the final game of the season when New Orleans was fighting for a wild card.

But then-coach Jim Haslett wasn't about to lean on the besotted advice of a crowd pining for Delhomme, who at that point in the season had completed eight of 10 passes. And the rest is history. The next season Delhomme led the Panthers to the Super Bowl, with Saints fans suffering tremendously more than usual, while Brooks regressed for three seasons until the Saints signed Brees in 2006 and traded Brooks to Oakland, where his career flamed out before the season's mid-point.

Jabari Greer, No. 32, played big again today but came up gimpy in the fourth quarter after tweaking his groin. Randall Gay and Malcom Jenkins filled in and rookie Jenkins, who came in for nickel packages, came up short on at least one play, proving how valuable Greer is. Here's hoping we won't miss him if he can't play in the next couple of weeks as we face the one-win apiece Rams and Buccaneers -- if Greer needs rest before our showdown against the Patriots on Monday Night Football after Thanksgiving then Jenkins should get the chance to hone his chops against these patsies.

Brees thanks Delhomme for showing up and attempting to extend his seven straight wins against the Saints in the Dome. Field play aside, let's break down this quarterback matchup by stature. OK, now Drew is listed at 6 feet tall, Jake is listed at 6 feet 2 inches tall. Although it's been rumored Drew is listed a little taller than he actually is. Someone said he's more like 5'10. Based on this picture, whaddya think? (Leave your answer in the comments thread.) And now here's jshox vlogumnist Deezzy getting crunkdiculous in his bedroom, at least for the first minute that's worth watching, after the game.

Saints are 8-0 for the first time in the history of the world. Whooooooooooo Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt!!!