Thanks, Leej ~ very perceptive (unlike so many of the talking-head "experts" on TV, at least until very recently).

Last year the Saints had home-field advantage all the way to the final game, and may not have won without that advantage. This year they'll just have to show that they can win a championship the harder way, on the road.

Brees has been occasionally imperfect, unlike last year, but he's still capable of just about anything once we get to win-or-go-home time. The N.O. defense has produced fewer turnovers, but has improved upon last year's yards-allowed and points-allowed statistics. And the top two running backs, who have been injured for most of the year, seem to be rounding into form. All in all, no worse than last year's championship team, maybe a little better. We shall see...