Subject: THEY HAVE BEGUN! First AFC Wild-card game- Tennessee 13-0 drubbing of the Ravens to advance to the next round. First NFC Wild-Card Game: A strong, confident New Orleans squad started the post-season the right way against a Cowboys (Paul)squad that never really deserved to be there in the first place, they just sort of fell into it. The Deuce was not only NOT loose this game, he was chained to his crutches on the sideline, as their award-running back cradled his broken ankle and offered a few choice words of wisdom, laced with epithets, to his back-up, Jamal Anderson. Jamal, seeing his first significant playing time of the season was fired up, and his enthusiasm carried over to the rest of the team. Even the seasoned Brooks was touched by Jamal's wide-eyed eagerness to finally show what he could do. Before the Cowboys could blink, it was half-time, and they found themselves down 21-7 with 30 seconds left. The Saint's well-balanced offensive spread was delivered perfectly by Brooks, his wideouts, and yes, Jamal Anderson making the most of every touch. Quincy Carter, with no time left before the half, tossed a deep bomb that was indicative of the Cowboy's whole day. It spiralled perfectly and caught up with the receiver just as he cleared the CB- with the promised land wide-open in front of him and the prospect of only being down one TD seeming ever closer- the ball thudded off the receiver's helmet and bounced to lie on the grass at his feet. Oh, so quickly the Dallas hopes turned to dust. The second half did not start much better, as New Orleans once again came out strong and destroyed the Dallas defense- from the long kick return to the 3 and a half minute drive into the endzone it was going to be a painful, humiliating loss. Dallas's wide-receiver issues were only balanced out by their missing secondary. If it was not the offense dropping balls off their numbers, it was the defensive secondary giving up big plays to a laughing Joe Horn. Finally, at the end of the 3rd, Quincy put together a sustained drive to give Dallas their second score of the evening. Unfortunately, the Cowboy's defense never got the word, and they let up yet another TD to put the Saints up 35-14. Miraculously, Carter decided it was not over yet, and in almost no time threw his longest career pass from the 30- a 50 yard spiral that was run in for a touchdown. It was a classic case of too little, too late. The onside kick went bad, and Aaron Brooks, Joe Horn, and even Jamal Anderson put in his two cents, did not even allow a glimmer of hope for the Lonestar state. As Carter grabbed the starter pistol from the refs to go after his whole receiving corps (gotta love those Texans!), the final score showed up on the monitor, New Orleans 49, Dallas 21. In an almost perfect game, Aaron Brooks started his post-season strongly: 195 Yds, 5 TD's, no Int, only 3 incompletes (18/21), and even a rushing TD, all told, a 158.3 QB rating. In side-news, Jamal Anderson played his heart out and garnered his first 100 yd rushing game of his career.