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More...The plane ride home after the Saints' 27-7 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday was boisterous and energized.
There were jokes and laughter. There was talk about big plays and touchdown runs. Nearly everyone seemed ecstatic about the Saints' latest victory, one that pushed the team to a 3-0 start for the first time since the team won the NFC South and reached the NFC championship game in the 2006 season.
Such postgame euphoria wasn't possible the past two years, though, when the Saints struggled out of the gate before finishing disappointing seasons while watching the playoffs from afar.
"This is really good," Saints center Jonathan Goodwin said. "The past two years we had gotten off to slow starts and for the rest of the year we had been fighting out of holes. We were winning games, but we were fighting out of holes, so we ended up around .500. So it's good to get off to a good start. Now we've just got to maintain it."
Not long after returning to New Orleans, the players in the Saints' locker room had already started talking about preparing for Sunday's opponent -- the unbeaten New York Jets (3-0).
The Jets, who rank second in the NFL in scoring defense (11.0) and third in total defense (256 yards per game), likely will provide the Saints with their toughest opposition so far.
They've certainly caught the Saints' attention.
"Everyone in this locker room knows this is a big game for us," tight end Jeremy Shockey said. "This is one of the Football teams that we are going to play this year that is going to give us a test on both sides and special teams. It's going to be fun."
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10141560/Celebration-gives-way-to-anticipation