Christian, Jew, Atheist, Whatever: Pray for the Saints Come Sunday

Super Bowl XLIV is this weekend in Miami as the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints face off. It’s the first time two #1 seeds will have met in the Big Game since 1993 (Cowboys vs. Bills), and has the potential to be the biggest offensive juggernaut game since 1998 (Packers and Broncos). But as opposed to past years, where allegiances are usually split about 50-50 between the two teams, this year you have to, you must, root for the Saints. For no other team, no other city, deserves a Super Bowl as much as 'Nawlins does.

The only people who should root for the Colts on Sunday are Colts fans. It’s nothing against Indy. Personally, I think Peyton Manning will be the greatest quarterback ever by the time he retires, plus I love Donald Brown. But there's no better story in the NFL - heck, in all of sports maybe - than the Saints. Five years removed from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the city is rebuilding itself, and the Saints are the heart and soul of it all. 30,000 people were living in the SuperDome after the hurricane. Last week it hosted its first ever NFC Championship Game. One of the best stories of the last decade was when the Superdome reopened on Monday Night Football in September 2006. When the Saints blocked an Atlanta punt 2 minutes in, the Dome went wild, surpassing 100 decibels of noise for a full 40 seconds. Putting that in perspective, imagine putting your ear right next to a motorcycle at full blast, firecrackers as they go off, or a small gun being fired consecutively for 40 seconds. Crazy loud.

Quarterback Drew Brees thinks there is a direct correlation between the reconstruction of the city and the success of the team. There are very few who aren't donning the black and gold in Louisiana. Even Peyton's brother, Cooper, is wishing the Colts were not playing the Saints, because his allegiances are torn.

But aside from the heartfelt side to the Saints' season, there's also the side that is officially putting an end to the era of the New Orleans Aints. Including this season, they’ve made the playoffs just seven times in 43 years existence. They consider Archie Manning (yes, Peyton and Eli’s dad) their greatest player, which is pretty pathetic considering he threw 48 more interceptions (173) than touchdowns (125) in his career. His passer rating of 67.1 would have been 28th among starters this year, below the likes of Cleveland's Brady Quinn (67.2), Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick (69.7), and KC's Matt Cassell (69.9). I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say none of them will be considered "legends" or "icons" of their respective teams 30 years from now.

Finally, it's about time the best QB in the league without a ring finally drops that title in Drew Brees. The thing's he's done off the field for the city, like his Brees Dream Foundation that has rebuilt schools, playgrounds, and after-school programs for the New Orleans region, combined with his ability on it, the only thing missing from Breesus's resume is a championship.

After four decades of futility, Who Dat Nation has finally found an identity, and they are ready to explode should the Saints win (Could you imagine that parade?? It would make Mardi Gras look more lifeless than a love-child of Al Davis and Bill Belichick). Come Sunday Bourbon Street will be empty for what may be the first time ever. That’s because everyone will be in their homes or in a bar, cheering on their beloved Saints. If you had a heart, you would be doing the same.