With Halloween fast approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the spell that Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints are casting over the rest of the National Football League.

You may even say that the Saints are dabbling in a little voodoo, which down in the Bayou is appropriate.

It used to be that Archie Manning was the favorite son of New Orleans. He was a great player on a bad for a number years and people in the Bayou just went out to see him play.

But, those days are over, and Archie may not be the favorite son anymore if Brees keeps doing what he is doing.

Since high school, Brees has been told was too small, didn’t have a rocket arm, would never make it big.

All Brees did since then was go to Purdue in the Big 10 and make a name for him with the Saints.

Remember his career started with the San Diego Chargers and if it wasn’t for an injury at the end of his contract years he still may be there and Phillip Rivers may be the one that’s gone.

But, things work out for a reason, and while no one was going to take the chance on the injured Brees, the Saints stepped up and the rest you say his history.

Now, Brees is one of the best, I think he is the second best quarterback behind Payton Manning, sorry Tom Brady, in the NFL.
The fact that he hasn’t won a title is the reason why no one talks about how good he is.

I would take him over Brady any day. He is a very accurate passer and he can throw the deep ball with the best of them - just ask the New York Giants.

The Giants came into the game on Sunday with one of the best defensives in the league and all Brees and Saints did were carve them up for 48 points.

The game that was built up as the two heavyweights going at it – was more like Larry Spinks against Mike Tyson.

It wasn’t a great homecoming for another Manning, Eli, as he struggled playing back in his native New Orleans.

What the Saints were missing that last few years was defense. They were able to put up points – but it always came down to trying to outscore the other team.

This year, the Saints defense has led the way and if they continue to play that way it might be a New Orleans stile party in Miami for the Super Bowl.

A Harvard man: It wouldn’t be a column if I didn’t take my annual shot at the home standing Buffalo Bills.

While the Bills messed up my pool and one a game, they didn’t do it with style. The defense gave up more than 300 yards on the ground. That’s on the ground – not total offense. But they still found a way to win.

The intercepted golden boy Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets five times. Everything that Sanchez did right the first three games of the season, the rookie has done wrong during the losing streak.

I am not saying his won’t be a decent NFL quarterback – but everybody in New York City has been calling him the next Joe Namath. When Sanchez wins the Super Bowl then you can call him Namath.

As for the Bills quarterback situation. It was a shame that Trent Edwards got hurt. Everybody knows I am not a big Edwards fan, but at the same time I never want to see anybody hurt – especially when it comes to head injuries.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (Harvard) came in and did an o.k. job. He was able to move the team at times and at least he threw to his wide receivers. He actually threw the deep ball to Lee Evans, which was rules out of bounds – but it was the fact that he took a shot.

He even got the ball to T.O., even though Owens dropped the ball a few times.

I say give him the start on Sunday at Carolina. You already know what you have in Edwards and the team isn’t going anymore. Remember they forced six turnovers and had to win the game in overtime.

Edwards probably won’t be back this week anyways – not with this being his second knock to the dome in a year.

Bronco riding: Here we gone again. How many times do the Denver Broncos have to prove that they are for real?

The talk all week was are the Broncos ready to take on the Chargers?

It should be the other way around. The Broncos have proven they are the team to beat in the division. The reason why they don’t get a lot of love is because they don’t have any superstars on the team.

When Kyle Orton is your starting quarterback you get more laughs than pats on the back.

But, what have the Chargers done?

Every year they are talked about the favorites to win the division. And every year they come out of the gate struggling.

Rivers is a decent NFL quarterback, but nothing great. L.T. is still a good running back, but injuries and the wear and tear of the NFL has taken a toll on his body.

When I watch this game tonight, I want the Chargers to prove to me that they are a playoff team. The only reason why they made the playoffs last season was because they one their division at 8-8. 8-8 won’t get you into the playoffs this year and I don’t see the Broncos falling back to the pack.

So Chargers take out those throwback powder blues we like so much and prove me something tonight.