Wayback machine: 2002 Wk 13 vs. the Bucs (McCarthy’s O vs. Gruden’s D)

Great post, but Jake Delhomme didn’t start the Ravens game. Aaron Brooks was sacked twice on a drive while up 20-7 and he was pulled after that. I remember the Saints D/ST blocking punts and forcing a ton of fumbles, and the offense relying on Deuce heavily in that game. Brooks actually had a decent game in the dome vs. the Vikings the following week but the case against Mike McCarthy being this (or any) team’s head coach could well have been made in the very next game, as he called for a pass-heavy gameplan in the swirling winds of December Cincinnati. I would have bet my boots that nobody would ever hire him as an HC after that disaster of a game.