Where ESPN ranked the 2009 Saints among 57 Super Bowl-winning teams

I think you are vastly underrating the 2009 defense here, they were clearly superior.....and the players that remained on it until 2011 were 2 years younger.....

In that 9er playoff game we turned it over 5 times, and only got 1 in return....

In the 2009 playoff run we turned it over only 1 time in 3 games, and the D got 8.....

I think you folks are looking at the bright shiny object (the 2011 Saints offense) and vastly underestimating everything besides....offense.....
You make great points. That bright shiny object DOES stick out to me as I think back. I also think had we beat the 9ers we had a home NFCCG against the Giants and while nothing is guaranteed I really would have liked our chances. Both 09 and 11 were great teams