METAIRIE, La. – I have spent another day with the Saints and — as many times as I have been here this season, witness to matchups against the Jets, Giants and Patriots — this is the most dialed in I’ve seen this team.

Although I don’t cover this team on a daily beat, I’ve been here enough to gauge these players and the temperature in this locker room. Now, whether this translates into a dominant performance Saturday against the Cowboys, we’ll see, but I wouldn’t doubt it. In their games against playoff-caliber teams — Miami, both New York teams, Philadelphia and the Patriots — the Saints have averaged 40.8 points with a margin of victory of 18.8 points.

The brighter the lights, the bigger the stage, the more amped up this team gets. Here’s another thing – unlike the Colts — the Saints are trying to get to 16-0. Player after player said they are going to try to sway coach Sean Payton to let them go for it should they beat Dallas. Quarterback Drew Brees – I have told the beat writers here how fortunate they are to get to cover such an honest star, although my envy probably doesn’t mean much and I’m sure I’m not telling them they don’t already know  — said today that this is a once and a lifetime chance.

And with this team, what Brees says usually goes. He’s the ultimate leader.

I’ve got to roll back to the ATL, but I’ll be back in Who Dat country this weekend to cover the game on the NFL.com/LIVE online extra. Stay tuned.

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