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While local football fans were left with an empty feeling once again, the Saints proved to the world the impossible can become a reality.

By Bill Gelman

Add Comment | Comments: 1 | Posted Feb. 11, 2010

Another Super Bowl Sunday has come and gone without a celebration down South Broad Street.

The Philadelphia Eagles — the self-proclaimed gold standard of the NFL — not only failed to make the big game, but continues leaving fans wondering when — if ever — its first Super Bowl championship celebration will come.

Prior to Sunday — for 43 years to be exact — fans of the Who Dat Nation were asking the same questions. While the more experienced Indianapolis Colts — winners of Super Bowl XLI — were considered the favorites, the Saints thrilled a record-viewing audience of more than 106 million with a come-from-behind 31-17 victory. They’re just the fourth NFL franchise to win the title in their only appearance, joining the Ravens, Jets and Buccaneers.

The news was so big in the Bayou that the annual Mardi Gras celebration on Bourbon Street started nine days early. Besides it being the Saints maiden Super Bowl voyage, it marked the first major sports championship of any kind for the City of New Orleans. The season highlights also included the first 13-game win streak and No. 1 playoff seed in organization history.

If you’re “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” Kim and Saints running back Reggie Bush seemed like a happy couple on the post-game set of the NFL Network’s “GameDay Final.” Meanwhile, former Eagle, now Colt, Hank Baskett and wife Kendra were off-camera dealing with the agony of defeat.

In reality, it’s hard to find a current franchise who has had a tougher road than the Saints. It was just four years ago that the New Orleans Superdome was transformed into a shelter for those left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. The Saints had to be temporarily relocated so the city could get back on its feet.

The final chapter of this made-for-Hollywood comeback story has finally been written.

Although the plot would not be as exciting, the Eagles must dedicate the off-season to scripting a new game plan. A first-round playoff exit will not cut it. Neither will failing to show up for meaningful games.

The Birds left their fans in true cliffhanger fashion. Has Donovan McNabb played his last game in green? Will the team cut ties with the injury-prone Brian Westbrook? Is the front office going to hit the restart bottom and make fans continue waiting for that ultimate win?

Check back this time next year for the answers.