Back to the Superdome

THE New Orleans Saints return this week to Louisiana Superdome, scene of so many harrowing tales in the wake of Hurricane Katrina - and the NFL is planning a party to help erase those horrible memories.

The 2-0 Saints will host the also unbeaten Atlanta Falcons and will cap off day-long festivities and pregame activities.

The Goo Goo Dolls will perform just prior to the official opening of the Superdome, including in their set the hit single “Better Days,” which served as a theme song for many throughout the Gulf Coast region in the weeks following the hurricane.

The pre-game show will feature live performances by U2 and Green Day.

Elsewhere in the NFL eyes will be closely watching the match-up between the New York Giants and beaten Super Bowl challengers then Seattle Seahawks.

These two met last Thanksgiving weekend in a game that had one dramatic twist after another.
The Giants out-gained the Seahawks 490 yards to 355, led 13-7 in the third quarter, tied it at 21 at the end of regulation, suffered three missed field-goal attempts by Jay Feely, and then saw Josh Brown’s 36-yard kick win it 24-21 in overtime.

“It was a gut-wrenching way to lose a game,” said Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.

The rematch will feature the top two rushers of last year – Seattle’s Shaun Alexander (1,880 yards) and New York’s Tiki Barber (1,860).

In terms of divisional games featured this week, the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears visit the Minnesota Vikings with more than early season bragging rights at stake.

“It’s going to be a fun week,” said Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson.

Fun though it may be, but a win Week Three will bode well for the rest of the season - a loss will make it an uphill struggle for the rest of the year.
ENDS