Columnist Sal DeFilippo: For once, New Orleans is making all the right moves

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Dec. 15, 2000 | 9:09 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or 259-4076.

The holiday season must have a distinctly different look in New Orleans this year.

For most of the past three decades, teams visiting the Superdome in December usually came away with a Big Easy win. The only real challenge was getting the fans to take the paper bags off their heads.

But in these final two games of the 2000 regular season, expect the Saints' faithful to be pretty jazzed up. After all, the past two conference champions -- the Falcons and Rams -- are the opposition. In a town where there never seems to be a reason needed to throw a big party, there finally is just cause for one, at least regarding its football team.

Once a team of Bum's, this patchwork roster has stunned the league under Jim Haslett. The Saints' skipper has endured key injury after key injury, but somehow has his team at 9-5 and knocking on postseason's door. Remember, you can count the number of playoff victories in New Orleans franchise history on no hands.

Ricky Williams breaks the 1,000-yard barrier in the season's ninth game, and breaks his ankle on the same play. The next week, starting quarterback Jeff Blake, not to be outdone, breaks his ankle.

Most teams couldn't recover from such devastation. But up steps Aaron Brooks. In his first NFL start, he beats the defending Super Bowl champion Rams. In his second start, he throws for 400 yards, albeit in a loss to Denver.

But last weekend's win against San Francisco was the coup de Mardi Gras for Brooks. The quarterback ran for more than 100 yards and led the Saints to two fourth-quarter scores in a come-from-behind road win.

The yardage is significant, for this reason: He became only the sixth QB in league history to have a 400-yard passing game and a 100-yard running game. None of the other five accomplished the feat even in the same season, much less in consecutive weeks.

The rally itself was symbolic of the New Orleans season. Trailing by 10 with eight minutes to go, the Saints march 65 yards, scoring on a 22-yard pass from Brooks to Willie Jackson at the 5:46 mark to close within a field goal. On the play, Brooks escaped several pass rushers before finding Jackson for the touchdown.

The defense, which has been solid all season, forces the 49ers to punt and Brooks and company take over at the 4-minute mark. On a crucial fourth-down-and-4 play on their own 37-yard line, Haslett gambles. Brooks scrambles. First down.

The Saints reach the 10-yard line, and Chad Morton, one of several running backs to fill in for Williams, takes a handoff and sweeps around right end, racing for the goal line. He dives for the end zone, but fumbles as he is going out of bounds. After a review upstairs, it was determined that the football went out of bounds at the 1-yard line, meaning the Saints keep possession. If the ball had bounced into the end zone prior to going out of bounds, the 49ers would take possession and the game would have been over.

On the next play, Jerald Moore, the next on the carousel of tailbacks, gets his turn. He plunges up the middle, but also fumbles. After a long scramble, the Saints recover again. No sweat.

On the following play, Terry Allen -- yes, the same Terry Allen who once was a featured back at Minnesota, Washington and New England -- scores the game-winning touchdown with 46 seconds left.

If he had been stopped, maybe George Rogers could have gone out there to take a shot. Perhaps a pass to Hokie Gajan would have been the next call.

No matter who's in there, Haslett and the Saints seem to be making all the right moves.

Last week

A 1-4 week has me stumbling to the finish line, as usual. The NFC Central let me down last week, as Minnesota and Detroit each failed as 3 1/2-point underdogs. The Bears, who I picked against, beat New England. I also lost when Seattle scored a late touchdown to cover against the Broncos. Jacksonville was the only winner, whipping up on sad Arizona.

My top five

OAKLAND -6 1/2 at Seattle -- I haven't lost a Saturday NFL game all year, in large part because there haven't been any. The Raiders can't afford any slip-ups en route to the playoffs. One loss could mean the difference between a division title and possible first-round bye and a wild-card seeding. Oakland won't look past the Seahawks. Oakland 34, Seattle 17.

BUFFALO -4 1/2 vs. New England -- If Rob Johnson can hang onto his pride as long as he hangs onto the football, the Bills should roll against a New England team that is looking at a 1-7 season on the road. Buffalo 31, New England 6.

NEW YORK JETS -6 1/2 vs. Detroit -- With a road game at Baltimore to close out the season, the Jets know they likely need a win here to make the postseason. It's the Lions' third straight road game -- losses against the rivals Minnesota and Green Bay preceded this game -- traditionally a death knell against the point spread. New York Jets 30, Detroit 17.

SAN FRANCISCO -6 vs. Chicago -- Expect to see Jerry Rice get the football in the 3Com Park end zone a couple of times on Sunday, and maybe for the last time. San Francisco 35, Chicago 24.

NEW YORK GIANTS -6 vs. Dallas -- Expect injured Troy Aikman to try to give advice to Anthony Wright this week, who's making his first NFL start. Of course, since Aikman was interception by the Giants five times in the teams' first meeting this year, maybe that isn't such a good idea. New York Giants 29, Dallas 15.