Saints Celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary of the Home Coming in the Dome on Monday Night Football in 2006.
Tonight as the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons square off on Monday Night Football celebrating that unforgettable contest 10 years ago this week when the Saints returned to the Super Dome in Prime Time fashion and came away with a historical win to open a new chapter in New Orleans Saints History. That chapter would eventually include an NFL Championship victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl 44.
So, In memory of that memorable game in 2006, I’m re-posting a popular image that has become as familiar to WhoDat fans as Tracy Porter’s pick-6 of Peyton Manning in that Super Bowl. The image of Special Teams Ace Steve Gleason blocking the Atlanta Falcons punt that resulted in a Curtis Deloach recovery in the endzone and a 7-0 lead that night.
What made that game so special was it came after the debacle of the 2005 season. The New Orleans Saints emerged a totally transformed team in 2006. It was the third game of that season, and a Prime Time Monday Night Game against the rival Atlanta Falcons at that. What was so telling is that it would prove to be an omen of the days that were to come. It was the first game in the Louisiana Super Dome in almost 2 years due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and for Saints Fans, it was a doozey. It was a 23-3 total domination of the Falcons and it began with Steve Gleason’s blocked Falcon punt.
It was a fitting beginning to the new era of New Orleans Saints Football.