I really like what I saw on both sides of the ball. I take more of KontradictioN's point of view
I wouldn't read to much into the x2 3 and outs the Saints had at the beginning, we had x3 3 and out vs the Bangles last year in our 1st preseason.
Saints offense plays for 4 quarters and its not uncommon for them to put up 21-28 pts in a quarter once they get in rhythm. Last year we made a TD every 1st drive for the first 6 games , later we became a 2-4 quarter team. Saints offense is very complicated and unlike the colts, which I believe is a vertical/ spread, someone correct me if I am wrong.
Payton plays all 4 offensive philosophies that are run in the NFL. More than 7000 plays that look like 72 similar formations using all 4 offensive Systems
The balanced offense which uses the run to set up the pass,
the west coast offense which uses the short passing game to set up the run,
the spread which Brees played in sometimes at Purdue along with the west coast offense,
and the vertical offense which requires a cannon arm quarterback and fast receivers. *
So it dosnt always click. I think BB has brought this up before. That it did click on the 3rd drive is what we were looking for, because then it usually doesn't stop. I think most saw Payton switch to a balanced/west coast offense in the SB because the Colts were killing us on spread.
When we played the patriots last year we went to a vertical set, and it worked right off the bat. I noticed we did the same call on the first two 3 and outs. BB blitzed and the vertical requires time. On the 3rd set payton switch to west coast and we got some rhythm.
I think the Patriots OL looked great, but we had some rooks put in there on a couple sets, A.Wood was in on Bradys first run. Edelman looks promising, he burned our cb robinson. Hernandez was ok. Tate caught my eye, glad Moss is back. I didn't like Butlers or taylors play. I know Im going to get bashed for Taylor , but I thought B.Green-Ellis had harder runs and moved better between the guards. On average PThomas and Ivory ran better.
This is not diminishing the win, you won that simple.
This is just my teams outside perspective. I think a lot of media and fans built the Saints as a measuring stick, and were not. This game has truly been a blessing for us, because we get to play a really good team with amazing coaching and good fans.
This makes me very optimistic for both teams chances. I think the Patriots have added to their arsenal with guys like Edelman,Gort, and Hernandez. But that has to be tempered with the realization that Bell was a star on our Saints offense at the beginning of the season, but later couldn't handle the game to game beat down and became less than ordinary later in the season.
BB has really rebuilt and put some very interesting talent on the field. IF both teams had our 1st string playing 4 quarters Im not sure we could beat you.