There even was doubt they would return, but the NFL refused to abandon the city. The Superdome was repaired and the Saints won the NFC South in ’06, their first season with Brees and Payton.

“Four years ago, who ever thought this would be happening when 85 percent of the city was underwater from (Hurricane) Katrina.” Brees said. “Most people not knowing if New Orleans would ever come back or if the organization and the team would come back. … This is the culmination of that belief and that faith.”

Brees, who tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions, the last a two-yard slant to Jeremy Shockey for the winning points with 5:42 remaining, completed 32 for 39 passes for 288 yards. “We just believed in ourselves, and we knew that we had an entire city, and maybe an entire country, behind us,” said Brees, the game’s MVP.

“What can I say? I tried to imagine what this moment would be like for a long time, and it’s better than expected.” Looking like the NFL’s most potent offense, the Saints seized the opportunity to take their first lead. It came on Pierre Thomas’ brilliant 16-yard run with a screen pass, capped by a dive into the end zone.

The Saints (16-3) won three postseason games this winter after winning only two in the previous 42 years. They beat Arizona, Minnesota and Indianapolis (16-3), all division winners, for their first title, scoring 107 points and allowing only 59.

Manning, who was matched up against the Saints 25th-ranked defense, struggled throughout the night. “I certainly know how it was three years ago when we won,” Manning said. “I know the people of New Orleans and the Saints have that same feeling right now.”

Green Bay @ Detroit

Prediction: Green Bay Packers 28, Detroit 24. This game might be a bit more close than one would think.

Oakland @ Dallas

Prediction: Dallas 20, Oakland 14. The Raiders put up a fight, but America’s team has to win on Thanksgiving Day – right? Will the best punter in NFL history hit the scoreboard?

New York Giants @ Denver

Prediction: New York Giants 17, Denver 14. The Broncos are a sinking ship.

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta

Prediction: Atlanta 31, Tampa Bay 17. The Falcons have too much offense for the Bucs to win, but they will keep it relatively close.

Miami @ Buffalo

Prediction: Miami 20, Buffalo 13. The new coach will get his first taste of defeat.

Cleveland @ Cincinnati

Prediction: The Cincinnati Bengals will not lose consecutive games to bad teams.

Seattle @ St. Louis:

Prediction: Even with injuries to multiple starters, the Rams should not win this game. They’re simply horrible and headed for the first overall pick in the draft.

Carolina @ New York Jets

Prediction: New York Jets 13, Carolina 10. Sanchez makes only two or three major mistakes so the Jets still have a chance to win this game.

Washington @ Philadelphia

Prediction: Philadelphia 28, Washington 7: The Eagles can use this game to get their confidence back.

Indianapolis @ Houston

Prediction: Indianapolis 31, Houston 24. The Colts should be on upset alert. If a few things go their way, the Texans can win this game.

Kansas City @ San Diego

Prediction: San Diego 31, Kansas City 13. The Chargers will overwhelm the Chiefs with their passing attack.

Jacksonville @ San Francisco

Prediction: San Francisco 17, Jacksonville 9. The 49ers will stuff the Jaguars rushing attack.

Arizona @ Tennessee

Prediction: Arizona 21, Tennessee 17. The Titans streak comes to an end.

Chicago @ Minnesota

Prediction: Minnesota 28, Chicago 7. The lone Chicago TD comes from a Cutler bomb, but he also throws three picks…Ouch!

Pittsburg @ Baltimore

Prediction: Pittsburg 21, Baltimore 14. This could be a playoff eliminator and the Steelers are the better football team.

New England @ New Orleans

Prediction: New England 28, New Orleans 24. In perhaps the best game of the year, Brady leads the perfect two-minute drive. However, he leaves a few seconds on the clock for the other gun slinger to make things interesting.

Indianapolis Colts @ St. Louis Rams

Prediction: Colts 31, Rams 10. The Indianapolis Colts continue to roll and will win easy.

Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburg Steelers

Prediction: Steelers 28, Vikings 21. The Vikings will not go unbeaten in 2009. The Steelers are getting healthy and will slow down the Vikings running game enough to win.

New England Patriots @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Prediction: Patriots 40, Buccaneers 14. The patriots are too good for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to even give them a scare this week.

Green Bay Packers @ Cleveland Browns

Prediction: Packers 35, Browns 14. The Packers have too much offense for the Browns to remain close in this game.

Buffalo Bills @ Carolina Panthers

Prediction: Panthers 21, Bills 17. The Carolina Panthers will an ugly game.

Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys:

Prediction: Falcons 21, Cowboys 17. The Cowboys could win this game, but the Falcons are playing better at this point in the season.

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Prediction: Chargers 17, Chiefs 16. The Chiefs could win this game in a possible upset special.

New York Jets @ Oakland Raiders

Prediction: Jets 21, Raiders 13. If the Raiders had any type of offense they will win this game.

Chicago Bears @ Cincinnati Bengals

Prediction: Bengals 31 Bears 28. Palmer beats Cutler in a shootout.

New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins

Prediction: Saints 28, Miami Dolphins 17. The Saints are too good.

Arizona Cardinals @ New York Giants

Prediction: Giants 31, Cardinals 27. The Giants get back on the winning track against the Cardinals.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins

Prediction: Eagles 21, Redskins 10. The Redskins are a mess right now and they’re probably looking for their next head coach behind the scene.

I don’t like the fact that a kicker who had little to do with the hard fought game can come in and kick a 30 yard field goal and get the glory when the real work was done by the defensive/offensive lineman, wide receivers, running backs, and the QB. College football has the right idea giving each team a chance to score with an offensive possession. While I wouldn’t place the ball on the 25 yard line but the 45 so the teams would have to earn a field goal try by gaining a first down first.

We tend to overreact when these circumstances happen like a tie NFL game, the last one was 6 years ago so they rarely happen, but when they do it still doesn’t make them any easier to swallow for the players. Even if the NFL doesn’t apply the shoot-out style college football overtime rule immediately they could play one overtime period, and if nobody scores after the first overtime then apply the shoot-out format. To play a 75 minute game and not have a winner is definitely very frustrating. Also, being there are only 16 regular season games each win and lose is very important and crucial to the standing and the tie keeps you from a potential win they could need later. I doubt any time soon the NFL will change their overtime policy so we the viewers and the players will just have to live with it.

Either Adam Jones was drunk out of his mind during the altercation or the former “Make it Rain” in the gentlemen club guy was just being himself.  Adam Jones knew coming into this season that he was going to have to be on his best behavior all day every day.  Per the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell – due to Adam Jones past behavioral problems with his former college and pro teams the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Tennessee Titans.  Commissioner Goodell is not a guy to play around with, as Adam Jones already knows via his year long suspension from the league last year.  The other Dallas Cowboy teammates are now having to answer questions about Adam Jones behavior; instead of questions about their upcoming opponent – the Arizona Cardinals.  Well owner Jerry Jones said that the Cowboys won’t do anything as far as punishment so Adam Jones is going to lineup against the Cardinals.  I wonder if Adam Jones is going to get a couple of questions from Larry Fitzgerald or whoever Adam Jones has to cover to try to get inside of his head to throw off his game.  Well I’m sure that the Arizona Cardinals fans will have some pretty nasty things to say to Adam Jones while he is on the sideline.  I can’t wait to see all of the interesting signs that the fans will have made for the pleasure of Mr. Adam Jones.  There might be – Starring Kevin Costner and Adam Jones in ‘The Bodyguard’ or ‘Who needs enemies when you have a Bodyguard’.

Everyone heard all summer how much Adam Jones was a changed man; from former Cowboy star – now NFL network employee Deon Sanders to Dallas Cowboys head ball coach Wade Phillips.  Just seems like it was what a lot of people were hoping for – the best, maybe wishing upon a star.  Seems like it is more of the same for Adam Jones.  Doesn’t matter if he changed his name or not.  If Adam Jones doesn’t change his character it won’t matter.  Adam Jones needs to realize that he doesn’t want to be talked about being a wasted talent who couldn’t stay out of trouble and ruined his NFL career – like former potential NFL star Lawrence Phillips who was just sentenced in Los Angeles to 10 years in prison after being convicted of assault with a deadly weapon.  Adam Jones might not be on this horrible of a path but it is possible.  After getting a couple million dollars a year most athletes don’t know what to do with themselves after the NFL.  Unfortunately that sometimes lead to trouble.

Whatever signs or harassment that Adam Jones will experience this Sunday, he better stop for a second and take it all in.  This could be the last game that Adam Jones plays in the NFL for awhile.

Dallas Cowboys – Arizona Cardinals
Yes, Arizona is playing in a big game, that hasn’t happened in awhile. Coming off last weeks blow out of Buffalo Arizona will be looking to ride that momentum when Dallas comes to town. These are the two highest scoring teams in NFC and looks like it might be a shootout. This game will be a battle of offense, and come down to which defense will make the stops in key spots. Kurt Warner is off to a great start at QB for Arizona and if he keeps it up Dallas will have there hands full. Dallas defense ranks 17th against the pass and Arizona is in the top 5 of passing teams in the league. Dallas cannot afford to lose this game, they need to keep pace in this division. On paper Dallas is the most talented squad in the league and they will need all that talent to win on Sunday. Look for Dallas to run the ball a lot with Barber and Jones and test the Cardinal defense. This should be high scoring affair, that will be close for most of the game. I will look for the Cowboy defense to step up and make some stops in the fourth quarter and lead the Boys to victory. I think the final score will be 31 – 24 Dallas, they are just the more talented team.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos
After Jacksonville had a disappointing loss last week, they are in tough again traveling to Denver in week 6. In my opinion the Jags are better then there record and Denver is worse then there record. If Jacksonville wants to win this week they will have to slow down Cutler at QB for the Broncos. The Broncos have been all offense this year with a 3rd ranked offense and 25 ranked defense. Denver’s defense allows 130 plus yards a game on the ground and Jacksonville will look to exploit that by running a lot. Maurice Jones Drew and Fred Taylor will need to have productive days for there team to win. The Jaguars will look to make the game physical on both sides of the ball and jump on the opportunities the Bronco’s will give them. This is kind of a ying/yang game with Jacksonville wanting to slow the game down and Denver wanting to speed it up with big plays. If Jacksonville wants to win they will need to improve there 26th ranked defense against the pass and get some pressure on Cutler and force him to make bad decisions.  This is a tough game to pick, and I think it will come down to late in the game. I think the Jags D will step up and slow Cutler and allow the offense to run there plays. It will be a close game, but I think the Jags will win 24 -21 with a late field goal.

New England Patriots – San Diego Chargers
The two favorites in the AFC before the season, but things haven’t started the way either team expected. This game will be missing big stars like Brady and Merrien, but is still very intriguing. To win this game both teams will be looking to get there running games going and take some pressure off there QB’s. San Diego was embarrassed last week losing to Miami in a game they were heavily favored to win and will be looking to redeem themselves this week. With the Bills on bye this week the Patriots know that if they win they are back on top of there division, a place they are used to being. Chargers can’t afford to lose, Denver is playing good football and a loss just puts them further back in there division. This game will come down to which team can run the ball and which team can stop the run. Tomlinson is banged up in San Diego, but I don’t think you’ll see him have less then 40 yards this week. Both team will establish there run and clog the box on defense to stop it. I think this will be a close game again, but I think San Diego will win a close low scoring game. The Chargers are desperate, and will play with passion. The final score will be 21 – 17 Chargers.

Carolina Panthers – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Big NFC South game, that will go along way to determining who the best team in the division is. Carolina is off to a great start led by there defense that is only allowing 14 points a game. Tampa Bay is coming off a loss last week to Denver and will be looking to prove they are a playoff team this season. The Bucs are a balanced team, that are solid on both sides of the ball. This game  should be tight from the opening kickoff and be a physical affair. The game will go to the team that will avoid major turnovers and take advantage of there opponents mistakes. I love the Carolina defense and think they will have a pretty easy time with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay will put up a fight, but I think the Panthers will win 24 -14.

There might not be a lot of high profile games this week, but there is a lot of games that could define a teams season. Teams like San Diego, Tampa Bay, Miami and Jacksonville will look to prove they are contenders this year. Enjoy this weeks games and I hope your team is on the right path.

Ben Roethlisberger - Pittsburgh played in the Sunday night game again this week and “Big Ben” Came to play. Roethlisberger is off to a good start this year, but week 5 was his best showing of the season. Against a good defense in Jacksonville, Ben put up 309 passing yards and threw for 3 touchdowns. With a QB rating over 100 and completing 65 percent of his passes Roethlisberger definitely had a great week. The Steelers are off to a 4 -1 start and a lot of that has to do with the great play of Ben. If he keeps up this pace, the Steelers might be heading for a Super Bowl appearance.

Kurt Warner - The Cardinals pumped the Bills on Sunday and the big story is that Warner didn’t turn the ball over. At times it looked as if he could move the ball at will. He had a massive QB rating of 107 and threw 2 touchdowns. Warner even managed to rush for 10 yards and didn’t fumble the ball. He completed an amazing 78 percent of his passes and led Arizona down the field on every possession. With Warner playing this good, the Cards are a playoff team and one of the best offenses in the NFL.

DeAngelo Williams - Out of no where the Panthers running back put up 123 yards on the ground averaging over six yards a carry. He found the end zone twice the ground and received another. Williams showed how bad the Kansas City defense really is and I am sure he will get rewarded with more carries in the future. Williams had only 7 career touchdowns heading into this week and scored three in one game.

Ronnie Brown – The new Miami offense seems to agree with Brown. He put up 125 rushing years in week 5 averaging more then 5 yards a carry. In the past 2 weeks Brown has more then 230 yards on the ground and has scored 5 touchdowns. Ronnie is proving that when he is healthy he can be one of the better backs in the NFL. Look for Brown to keep this streak going, Miami’s offense is focused on him and he is performing. A great fantasy player of late, you never know when he will run, catch or even throw a touchdown.

Aaron Rodgers – You would have never known that Rodgers has a shoulder injury and was questionable for his week 5 start. He torched Atlanta’s D with 313 yards and 3 touchdown throws. He had a QB rating of 109 and averaged over 8 yards per throw. A lot people questioned whether Aaron was an NFL starting QB, so far it looks like he might be a pro bowl QB. Rodgers was hurt, but he started and played great for Green Bay.

Roddy White - White looks like he might just be that true number one receiver that Atlanta wants him to be. Roddy made eight catches for 132 yards this week and 1 touchdown. White is a big play threat on every down, he averaged more then 16 yards per reception in week 5. He is putting up great numbers this season for Atlanta, averaging 100 yards a game and has become a good target for QB Matt Ryan.

Charles Tillman - The Bears corner had a big week 5, highlighted by a 26 yard interception return for a touchdown. The Bears defense is great and Tillman is one of the better corners in the game. In week 5 to go along with the interception he had 4 deflections and 2 tackles. Tillman is a big play guy and when he gets the ball in his hands you never know what will happen.

Patrick Willis - I am not sure this guy ever has bad weeks and San Francisco is lucky to have him. Once again he made a ton of tackles, 14 in total and added a sack against the Patriots. Willis might be the best linebacker in the game and is a tackle machine for the 49ers.

Mario Williams - Houston suffered a heart breaking fourth quarter loss to the Colts, but Williams still had a good game. He put pressure on Peyton Manning all day and managed to sack him twice. He also had 3 tackles and was a threat on every snap. Williams is one of the best defensive ends in the game and is turning in to a true pro bowler.

Chris Cooley - The Redskins are playing great football and once again came up with a win this week. Cooley had his best game of the year from the tight end position gaining 109 yards. He had 8 catches averaging more then 13 yards per, and added a touchdown against Philly. Cooley is one of the best tight ends in the game, and Washington hopes he will repeat these numbers for the rest of the season.

Randy Moss - Moss got the ball this week and he produced for the Patriots. He caught 5 balls, averaging 22 yards per catch and 111 yards in total. He also added a touchdown in the Patriots win over the 49ers. This is the first time since week 1 Moss had more then 100 yards receiving and scored a touchdown. If Cassell has found a way to get Randy the ball, it will go along way to the New England having a good year.

You can put some players on this list every week, but there are always some surprises. There was a lot of great offense in week 5, but no one put up massive numbers like last week. Monday Night should be full of offense to and I am sure someone will put up some big numbers

Cassel doesn’t have to win the game for the Patriots, just not lose it for them. Many quarterbacks in the NFL have a great team around them and they are average at best, case in point the 2007 with Rex Grossman. Grossman was a sub-par QB and the Chicago Bears made it to the Super Bowl in spite of him with a good running game and stellar defense. All Grossman had to do was not make stupid mistakes by taking wild chances and it gave the Bears a chance to win every game. Cassel shouldn’t pretend he is anyone else and work within the offense and not try to be the “hero” so to speak. Being what the AFC is playoffs spots will be at a premium so falling back in the lose column will cause problems for the Patriots if they can’t pick up wins against the Raiders, Rams, and Cardinals.

Matt Cassel is in a very difficult position filling in the shoes of a future Hall of Fame player, but on the bright side nobody expects him to be Tom Brady, so with the expectation lowered some of the pressure will be off Cassel and he will perform better. Football is a very unpredictable game so maybe Cassel will take the opportunity he has been given and succeed, only time will tell. He is on a one season term because Tom Brady will be back next season, Cassel should make the most of his starting job while he can. Great quarterbacks in the NFL are few and far between and Cassel, while he isn’t a great QB yet this might be the chance he can prove that one day he will be.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Jacksonville Jaguars
These are two of the most physical teams in the NFL and you should look forward to a smash mouth game. Defense will be the name of the game and the game will be one by the QB who manages to move the ball in key situations. The Steelers are banged up in the back field, which will force Rothlisberger to beat the Jags through the air. The Jags win games with defense and a solid running game, and they will have to follow that game plan to win this week. Both these teams have had a tough start playing a lot of close games and being in stressful situations. This will be a low  scoring game and if you like to watch good defense this will be he game for you this week. I am concerned about the running game in Pittsburgh and I think if Jags QB David Garrard can avoid big mistakes the Jaguars will win this game. The game will be low scoring and will be won in the fourth quarter. My pick is the Jags, by maybe just a field goal.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Denver Broncos
An NFC South match up, both team are 3- 1 and will be looking to be first in the division at weeks end. This is a game about momentum, the Bucs are coming off a big win against Green Bay while the Broncos had a surprising loss last week. Both the teams QB’s have been playing very well and they will be looked at lead there respective teams to victory this week. Denver is off to a good start, but not because of there defense who are near last in almost every category. Denver will have to be extremely better then they were last week, if they want to have a chance on Sunday. Look for the Bucs to run the ball with Graham and Dunn all day, and make Denver’s poor defense try to stop them. For Denver to win they will need a big game out of Cutler and some turnovers on defense. I am not sold on Denver and think Tampa will win this game easily. Look for Ernest Graham to have a big game, but the key for the Bucs will be whether or not Griese can take care of the ball at QB. The Buccaneers will win and take control of the NFC South for the rest of the year.

Tennessee Titans vs Baltimore Ravens
The Titans are off to a 4 -0 start and will be looking to prove to the league that they are real contenders. Baltimore is 2  – 1 and are led by one of the leagues best defenses. The Titans defense is also very good, and this game looks like it will be low scoring affair. The Titans get a lot of pressure on the QB led by Albert Haynesworth, which might mean trouble for Ravens rookie Joe Flacco. To get some pressure off Flacco look for the Ravens to run a lot and if they do throw look for short passes and bootlegs. I don’t think the Ravens will score a lot of points so the key there success will be stop the Titans on offense. The Titans will also look to run the ball a lot, but they will take some deep chances to stretch the field. I think the Titans will be 5 -0 after this week, I just don’t like Flacco playing against the Tennessee defense. There won’t be a lot of points in this one and the team that runs the ball the best will win the game.

Minnesota Vikings vs New Orleans Saints
Monday night game this week and it should be a high scoring affair. The Saints lead the league in passing yards and attempts. The Vikings defense is 17th against the pass and the Saints QB Drew Brees will look to take advantage of that. Minnesota will try and slow this game down by running the ball a lot with Adrian Peterson. Peterson should be able to have a big game, the Saints defense is 20th against the run so far. These team have contrasting styles on offense and the winner will have to figure the other one out to win. The Saints will throw the ball all over the field and Peterson will have a great day. Look for Peterson to have a fantastic day along with Brees from the Saints. My pick is the Saints to win in a shoot out, if you like offense you will like this game. If the Saints want to win they cannot allow Minnesota to have any success throwing the ball, Peterson is going to get his yards, but do not let them get big plays threw the air.

Al Davis, 79, is at the point where no coach seems to want to work with him anymore and the Raiders change coaches more the square dancing partners do. Constant coaching changes is not a element for success because the team doesn’t have a chance to build any sort of chemistry to become successful. Coaches need time to develop a relationship with their players and earn their trust. While Al Davis seems to have good intentions for his team maybe the league has passed him by. Davis was one of the people who helped with the NFL/AFL merger in 1970 and was an instrumental part of the Raiders championship success early on. If the Raiders want to return to their “commitment to success”, which at this point seems to be an ironic phrase, Al Davis will probably have to pass the torch to someone else who can bring fresh ideas and a new mentality to the Raiders organization. The Raiders have become the NFL’s witness protection program and no coach seems eager to take the once prestigious head coaching job.

Professional sports teams go through periods of highs and lows but the Raiders have shown nothing that would indicate that would suggest they are on the right path to overall success. While the NFL is ever changing and evolving Al Davis seems to be stuck in the past and living off what he did and not what he is currently doing, and what he is doing is wrecking his own franchise. If the Raiders do succeed it won’t be because of Al davis but inspite of him.