This week's "what-if" scenario for the New Orleans Saints looks at what could have been if one of the most painful moments in Saints history never happened.
The Minneapolis Miracle. As far as fans of the New Orleans Saints are concerned, there really isn't any more that needs to be said other than that. Now that that revisiting of actual history is out of the way, let's dive right in and see how things would be different for the Saints, if they get out of Minnesota with a win in the 2017 NFC Championship.
As far as the remainder of the 2017 season goes, we have to be honest with ourselves. It's hard to believe that anyone was going into Lincoln Financial Field and beating the Philadelphia Eagles in Philly to go to Super Bowl LIl, especially considering the Minnesota Vikings led by Case Keenum, who hung around with the Saints and won on a miracle, got absolutely run off the field the next week. Taking Sean Payton's success against Doug Pederson into account, the Eagles still get to Super Bowl LIl, but it's a much closer game. Nick Foles and company also get to the big game with far less momentum, which has the result of that game looking much more dicey.
2018 and beyond though? MUCH different...
Back to the Saints, going into that offseason, the team that they are a piece away from immortality, preferably on defense. That being the case, instead of trading up to draft Marcus Davenport in the first-round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Saints trade away their first-round pick and some change for a heavily sought-after pass-rusher who was prepared to hold out of training camp and whose team was looking to trade him. His name? Khalil Mack.
With the young Saints core filled with rookies having a year under their belt, a determined Drew Brees to get back on top of the mountain with Michael Thomas about to reach the peak of his powers, now with Khalil Mack being the cherry on top of an emerging defense, the Saints run roughshod over the NFC, which includes the NFC Championship. Since they're already out to a big lead at home to the Los Angeles Rams, a blatant no-call of a pass interference doesn't have much effect on anything,
As a result, the Saints meet the Patriots in Super Bowl LIll, and if you think the Rams were able to contain that offense, wait until you see what Mack and co. have in store. Drew Brees, Sean Payton get their second ring, and the second for the franchise, and enter 2019 flying high.
In this universe, the 2019 Saints have a first-round bye, so there's no second crushing defeat to the Vikings (or first in this case) thanks to Kirk Cousins and Kyle Rudolph, and we finally get a Drew Brees vs. Aaron Rodgers playoff matchup, which the still piping-hot Saints wind handily. They then defeat the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC title, and get back to the Super Bowl to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Unfortunately for the Saints, Mahomes magic still reigns supreme, and the Saints fall to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. The next year, Brady magic also still reigns supreme with the Bucs, especially now that he has added motivation and revenge on his mind for Super Bowl LIll.
So in summary, in present times things are basically the same for the 2023 New Orleans Saints had the Minneapolis Miracle not occurred. However, they would have a second championship in 2018 by winning Super Bowl LIll, and get to another Super Bowl in 2019. The legacies of Brees and Payton are just a little sweeter, and who knows, maybe the coach doesn't decide to quit, sorry "briefly retire" when Brees calls it a career, but that's a discussion for another day.
Feel free to let us know which multiverse we should explore in the coming weeks, in a future edition of "What If Wednesday".