I’ve played fantasy football and basketball with a guy I knew from Jr High and High School since probably 1999. In our football league, I am the two time defending champ, this year going for the three peat. Yesterday before the Saints/Falcons game, I was down 60 points in my game (37-97) to this guy who was tied with me for first place in our division. Sixty points is a lot, even when you have 4 ‘players’ going for you (Colston, Shockey, Turner, Saints D). In my work league, I was also far behind (76-110), but I only had one guy playing and he was going to have to score 4 TDs and run for 150 yards for me to have a chance. Considering it was Pierre Thomas and the Saints use a RB by committee philosophy, that kind of performance was going to be near impossible. The 60 point deficit was at least possible, but not very likely.

Did I mention it was SAINTS VERSUS FALCONS ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL? I rushed home and was able to hit the gym, stop by the store, and make it home with 10 minutes to spare before kickoff. I was stoked. I even drank beer (only one) on a weeknight, which I haven’t done in a long time. I thought the Saints could win by two TDs rather easily, especially since the Falcons were coming off a beat down from the Cowboys. The game started off and the Falcons looked good. Their defense was tougher than I thought, because hadn’t they just given up 300+ to Tony Romo last week? The Saints battled back, and right before halftime got two quick scores, including a INT returned for a TD by the defense. They were up two TDs at the half, and miraculously I had gone from down 37 to 97 to down 79-97 in the fantasy game.

I was never really worried about the real game, ever. Even when the Falcons jumped out to the early lead, or when they made the Saints offense look bad. I had just watched the Saints come back from down 21 last week, and we were at home, surely they would find a way to win. This season’s team just feels different. The second half started and it was tight. ATL was driving down only 4 and I thought for sure they would get a score. Then, the Saints intercepted and killed the drive. They drove down for a TD to go up 11 late in the 4th quarter. With each fantastic catch on that drive by Shockey and Colston, I crept closer and closer to the fantasy win too. The Saints seemed to have the game locked up, but could I also pull out this fantasy football miracle?

The ensuing Falcons’ possession, I was down 94-97. Things worth 2 points are sacks, fumbles, or interceptions. Two sacks and I win! Then the Saints pass rush knocked the ball out of Matt Ryan’s hands and they recovered the fumble. That counted for a sack AND a fumble, four points, I went ahead 98-97! The refs then reviewed it and called it an incomplete pass. I hate that rule. It went back to 94-97 and the Falcons eventually kicked a FG which then made it 93-97 because the defense gave up more points. ARGH!

The onside kick comes, and all the Saints have to do is recover it and then kneel down. Then the backup TE kind of muffs the FALLING ON THE BALL thing and the Falcons recover. Down eight points with less than a minute left, this thing is over, even with the Falcons having the ball. The fantasy game was not over though! Two sacks ties it. The Saints then got a sack, it was 95-97! ONE sack, ONE interception, just ONE thing would tie the game. I was hollering at the television for something to happen! On 2nd down from midfield with 11 seconds left, Matt Ryan heaves it downfield and the Saints intercepted with 3 seconds left in the game. The fantasy game was tied 97-97! The Saints were officially SEVEN AND O! Life was good, and it was 1 am before I actually went to sleep.