Time Out: Sheldon Mickles column for Jan. 16, 2012
Finality of playoffs hits Saints hard
SAN FRANCISCO — Before the start of the postseason, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and some of his players talked about the “finality” of what they were about to get into.
Twelve teams get into the playoffs; only one comes out in possession of the Vince Lombardi Trophy to take home after the Super Bowl.
The lesson was first learned in 2006, but most of the players from the team that reached the NFC Championship Game are gone. Another painful lesson came in 2010 when they lost to the Seattle Seahawks, but they were determined to avoid a similar fate this time.
Until, that is, finality hit them like a ton of bricks late Saturday afternoon.
Just as the sun was setting on a gorgeous day in the Bay Area, it set quickly on a Saints’ season that included 14 victories and a third NFC South title in six seasons.
Just like that, a 36-32 setback to the San Francisco 49ers ended their dreams of getting to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
Which is why the Saints spoke in hushed tones, with many of them staring at the floor of their cramped locker room beneath the antiquated stadium.
After four lead changes in the final four-plus minutes, it was over.
“I’ve never been a part of a game like today,” said Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks. “They got momentum, then we got momentum. They got it, then we got it … and they finally got it. It was an emotional roller-coaster, to say the least.”
Minutes earlier, the Saints and 49ers traded touchdown for touchdown until the Niners struck last on Alex Smith’s 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis, who torched the Saints defense for 180 receiving yards and two scores, with nine seconds left.
The Saints did the two things that will get you beat in any game: They turned the ball over five times, and the defense couldn’t get a stop once the offense finally handed them the lead.
“It was in reach,” a somber Nicks said.
Yes it was, despite all the turnovers and despite the defense failing to stop a 49ers offense that had more yards on its last three drives (215) that produced 17 points than it had on its first 13 possessions (192).
The Saints were proud that they were able to come back from the early giveaways, which helped the 49ers build a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter, and played aggressively to the end on defense instead of trying to preserve the lead the offense gave them.
Yet, it didn’t take away the sting they all felt.
“You understand that when you get into the playoffs, each week you have to win to move on or go home,” said quarterback Drew Brees, who had more than 900 passing yards in two playoff games. “Unfortunately, we are the ones going home this time.”
Once again, it goes back to the finality of it.
“It seems unreal, but it’s the reality of the situation,” said linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar. “The next time I see these guys will be at the exit meeting, and that’s not cool.”