How the Superdome crowd sparked Lattimore, Saints: 'The advantage is real'

Kevin Seifert | ESPN Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS -- It all came down to a pass thrown right into a receiver's hands. Even if he caught it, the New Orleans Saints had defenders in position to make the tackle well short of a score. But then suddenly, inexplicably, maddeningly … the unthinkable happened.

"If you play this game long enough," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said, "you're going to be part of some crazy stuff."

The ball bounced off the hands of Philadelphia Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery for only his third drop of the season and landed softly in those of Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The interception sealed the Saints' 20-14 victory, sending them to next week's NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams for a chance to head back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2009.

When reporters entered the Saints' locker room, remnants of a dance-club fog machine still wafted through the air. But the haze did little to cloud long-term memories. It was lost on no one that Lattimore's interception came nearly one year to the day after the Saints were eliminated from the divisional playoff round by another freaky play. ...

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