defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins knew for months how he would celebrate his first sack of 2017.
It took him until the ninth game of the season, but once he took down Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor in Sunday's win, Rankins finally got to honor a friend he wishes was still on the field with him and the rest of the Saints.
After Rankins made the play early in the fourth quarter, he did the same dance his "big brother" Nick Fairley did after sacks in 2016.
The Saints placed Fairley, 29, on the non-football illness list in June after determining he had a heart condition that could put him at a health risk if he continued playing.