There was no point this season where stock in the New Orleans Saints was higher than after their 38-3 trouncing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football in Week 9. It was a dominant performance in every way, and it suddenly looked like the Saints were the team to beat not just in the NFC South, but in the NFC.
Then people started to talk, and Tom Brady listened.
You can put as much stock as you want in the talk about Brady playing with a chip on his shoulder, but there are certain things you can’t deny.