Saints' Payton, Brees return to Cleveland where journey began

This Sunday's matchup between New Orleans and Cleveland will be more than just a get-right opportunity for the Saints after last weekend's defensive debacle in Atlanta. It's also a trip down memory lane: a return to where it all started for the current Sean Payton/Drew Brees regime. 

In 2006, Payton made his regular-season head coaching debut at New Orleans' helm as the Saints opened in Cleveland against the Browns. Payton's choice at quarterback: a guy named Brees who was enshrouded by question marks about his health and doubts about his capabilities after his exit from San Diego. 

The pre-season didn't point to particularly promising expectations for the new duo.

"It just seems like a long time ago," Paton said. "We came out of training camp with a lot of questions. I'm not sure what the record was. We won one game and lost three, if I'm not mistaken. It was kind of a one possession game back and forth. We were able to make some plays. I know Roman Harper had a sack. (Marques) Colston had his first touchdown."

The Saints triumphed that day 19-14, in a game that set the tone for the team to finish 10-6 after going 3-13 the season before. 

That Sunday in 2006 before kickoff though, near the shores of Lake Erie, the Black and Gold was focusing on something that almost seems easy for fans to take for granted now: one simple victory.

"It is hard to believe that was nine years ago," Brees said. "I remember us going in just saying 'Hey, can we please get a win today?'  Obviously that had been a pretty tough preseason for us, five weeks in Jackson, Miss. Guys felt like they have been beaten.  Just kind of watching it all come together, that was a hard fought game.  Both sides of the ball just kind of scratching and clawing it out to get that first victory.  What a confidence builder trying to get that first one under our belt and I felt like that set up the opportunity to go into Green Bay and get a big win and come back home for the opening of the Dome on Monday Night Football against the Falcons."

That Monday Night game against Atlanta marked the Saints return to New Orleans after a season of exile in the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina. Those three games - the two road wins in Cleveland and then Green Bay, followed up by the emotional victory in the Dome that will live forever in the hearts and minds of Saints fans – were the prelude to a season that culminated with the Saints appearing in the NFC Championship for the first time in franchise history. 

Now, Brees admits not even he saw what was ahead for this team.  

"I can't say the expectations were super high at that point," Brees said. "I think it was just about man, let's just find a way to win, however we have to come together, find a way to win."

How things chance: today, expectations for this season are sky high amongst the faithful in New Orleans. Sunday, the Saints defense looks to redeem itself after setting a team record by allowing 445 net passing yards in a 37-34 loss at Atlanta last week. New Orleans also surrendered 568 yards overall, the second most in franchise history (605 versus the Vikings on 10/17/2004).

On the radar screen, Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, who has not thrown an interception in any of his last 92 pass attempts, the third-longest active streak in the NFL. Since the beginning of last year, Hoyer is 20-for-26 (76.9 percent) with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 133.2 in the opening quarter of games. 

So far, the Browns are making good on their promise to force Johnny Manziel to begin on the bench and earn his way into the starting lineup. Johnny Football did not play in the Browns close loss to the Steelers last week. The Saints say they have discussed Manziel, just in case.

"At your personnel meeting in the morning, you discuss the depth chart and then with regards to a quarterback that might play separate from what we're preparing for with Hoyer," Payton said. "I don't know that you devote a period to it. You would definitely look at the packages he was in during the preseason. We might spend a little time in the walk through if all of a sudden there's a substitution. We might feel like there's a significant difference with what they're calling scheme wise." 

The Black and Gold's defense is also taking careful note of Browns rookie Terrance West, who ran for exactly 100 yards while making his NFL debut last week. 

"I think with a runner you very quickly have to adapt to the speed at which he's playing," Payton said. "I think he has very good vision. He's someone who's been very productive in college. Now he's not the only rookie we might see in the game. Obviously he's someone that's going to play a significant role in this game."