"You know, what we don't have is a deep passing game"

These were my exact words to the group in the top of the Superdome mere seconds before Drew Brees connected with Joe Horn on a 48 yard game tying touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter arresting the momentum of a 21-0 Philly comeback and saving the the day for the 5-1 Saints. The win over the Eagles lends credibility to Saints fans' claims that the team can play competitively with the NFL's elite teams this year... and maybe even beat a few of them.

This week's poop:

• In addition to the big game equalizer in the fourth quarter, Joe "Hollywood" Horn had 6 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Horn is now tied with Eric Martin for the all time team lead in touchdown receptions. On our way out of the building, we fell in line behind a pack of costumed hipsters who performed various songs chants and dances which they had apparently rehearsed together before the game. In between numbers, they just chanted "Hollywood" in honor of the player of this week's game.



It helps to have this guy back.


• It's also great to have a real quarterback. Expect to hear this at least once a week. As long as Brees's arm does not fall off, the Saints' offense will continue to play with poise and intelligence. Good coaching and smart players add up to nice things happening on the football field. Case in point from DeShazier's column; the game's biggest play was a result of a strategic adjustment made by Brees, Horn and Payton:

  "He (Horn) is a guy that if we can get him some early touches, he gets his confidence going," Coach Sean Payton said. "I was excited he got his first touchdown (of the season), and his second touchdown came off a play we had put in during the course of the game, to his and (quarterback Drew Brees') credit. Those guys saw something, and we made a little adjustment."
  
  What they saw, Brees said, was that the cornerback was "sitting a little bit. We felt like we could get Joe to run a pump and get by him."
  
  He did and, in doing so, twisted up the Eagles' Michael Lewis like a pretzel. That left Horn about as free as if he'd been on the field by himself, and all he had to do was catch Brees' easy toss and run the last 20 yards or so to complete the 48-yard score.

  In recent years, watching arguably more talented Saints offenses blunder about has been a torturous exercise in frustration. Watching this bunch is... well.. the opposite of that.



A shoulder held together by staples and duct tape may be all you need if you know what you're doing.


• TD tally: Marques Colston 4 Donte Stallworth 2



You have to actually be on the field in order to score


• The defense wasn't pushed around as badly as last week and generated more pressure on the quarterback but still missed tackles and gave up too many big plays. They don't quit easily though and that is good enough.... for now. The bottom line is Saints fans have every right to be excited. The team plays hard and smart and is fun to watch. Playoffs though? Don't get too excited.
  
  Fun fact: 3 of the last 4 Saints teams to start 5-1 missed the playoffs



• This week's fan complaint has to do with the deteriorating conditions of the Superdome ticket taking and security screening operation. Each week, it has gotten harder to get to our seats in time for kickoff. Yesterday we arrived twenty minutes before the game and waited in line for at least thirty minutes at the gate. When I finally got to my seat, the Saints were already up 3-0. (Okay well I stopped for a bloody mary too but would have missed at least half of the opening series no matter what) While waiting in line we overheard the following conversation:
  
  Saints fan 1: "Anyone know the score?"
  
  Saints fan 2: "21-3 Ravens"
  
  (The Ravens will be in town two weeks from now. Get it? Ha ha)
  
  If Jerk-of-the-Year candidate Sean Payton wants noise from the fans, it would be helpful if they could all get to their seats before play begins.

If they held a football game and didn't let anyone past security, would it make a sound? Ha! ha!... thank you I'll be here all season. (AP photo)

Note: As usual, game photos poached from the NOLA.com galleries.