The dynamics of the dome
NEW ORLEANS — Think of the Superdome as a giant balloon.
When the team is going well, Saints fans fill it with hot air. It can be difficult to hear. It can be difficult to think. It has to be hard for the opponent to play.
When the Saints aren’t going well, however, the balloon deflates. There’s a gaping empty space where all those “Who Dats?” are supposed to be.
Take a one-minute stretch at the end of the first quarter. The Saints went three and out and were forced to punt at the 1:33 mark in the first.
Empty balloon.
Then Wes Welker returned a punt 41 yards, and you could hear a pin drop in this place. The size of the Superdome actually serves as a disadvantage.
Moments later, however, Tom Brady was intercepted on New England’s first play after the punt, by New Orleans’ Mike McKenzie. A 26-yard run by Pierre Thomas with 28 seconds left in the quarter made the old dome feel oh-so-full.
If the Patriots play well, the crowd won’t be a factor here for the rest of the game. If they let the Saints pile up big plays — watch out.
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