You do know that Tom Benson's first full season as Saints owner was in 1985, the year after he literally saved the Saints from relocating to Jacksonville from out-of-state owners from a tired, defeated, pathetic former owner John Mecom? I suppose 1986 would or should be seen as sort of the "unofficial" beginning of Benson's tenure since thats the year he hired both Finks and Mora as GM and HC, respectively and we, as Saints fans, were able to finally enjoy some sustained measure of success over the next decade and Bum Phillips' last year in 1985 wasnt really his choice, but a holdover from the previous regime.
I do distinctly believe that if we'd beaten L.A. Rams in Week 16 instead of that epic, last-second FG heartbreak, we clinch our first winning season and post-season berth, win or loss the following week @ Dallas, I think Mecom sticks around as owner for maybe another decade and while I think Bum retires around the same time or sooner, the mid-late 80's Saints resurgence, the "Dome Patrol" in its eventual incarnation doesn't occur. I think given our talent roster going in the mid-80's being so good and promising, I think we have some winning seasons anyway but nothing on the level that Mora, Finks and co. brought us.