13 and 1 ……..

Merry Christmas Who Dat Nation!

I really hope that all of you have had a wonderful Christmas week.  Growing up in Chicago, I can tell you that I’ve never experienced such a warm Christmas week!  The weather was awesome on Tuesday when we had the day off.  It was a great day to finish up my Christmas shopping.

Well……like every other week, I’ll start the blog off with some thoughts on the previous week’s game.  I wish I were able to title this week’s blog 14-0, but we just didn’t get the job done.  I’m sorry Who Dat Nation!

We worked hard all last week preparing for the game.  I thought we did a good job of blocking out all the media and hype surrounding the game.  Unfortunately, we beat ourselves on Saturday night.  We just didn’t play a balanced game.  We should have been running the ball alot more than we did.  Every week, we talk about needing a quick jump-start when we take the field, and we’re just not doing that.  I give Dallas credit…..they came into the game and took advantage of our mistakes and turnovers to win the game.

I’m just glad that we are identifying our problems now so that we can really focus on fixing them as we head into the playoffs.  There are no other guys in the league that I would want to enter the playoffs with.  We have great guys on this team.  We’re all on the same page.  We know what we need to fix, and we’re working on fixing these things!

So, this Sunday we return to the Dome for our final regular season home game.  Oh yeah……..Thanks to every single Who Dat that was in the Dome last Saturday night!  You guys were AWESOME!  After the game, alot of the national reporters were saying it was the loudest sports venue they’d ever been in.  You guys had that place ROCKIN’!  Thank you!!!!

Keep it up this Sunday and then again when we host the playoffs!  You guys really help us out, I hope you know it!

So, Sunday we’ll take on Tampa.  I know their record says they’ve only won two games, but they really looked good in their last game.  We’ll take Sunday as an opportunity to focus on fixing some of our “problems”.  We really have to work on ball control and turnovers.  We need to patch up a few things with our defense, and of course………..we really need to make sure everyone is healthy.  If we win on Sunday, then we secure home field advantage through the playoffs!  That would be HUGE for us, the way you guys get the Dome Rockin’!

So……I’ll just close by sharing with you guys about the two bowling fundraisers I attended in the last week.  First was Peja Stojakovic’s bowling fundraiser to benefit his foundation.  It was last Thursday when it was torrentially downpouring.  Peja invited me to attend and I  made it out there.  I didn’t bowl, but I spent some time visiting with the guests and some of the Hornets players.  It was a great event that raised alot of money to go right back into the New Orleans community.  Peja told me that his foundation re-furbished a basketball court in Orleans Parish with proceeds from the success of this year’s event.

Also, Monday night, Robert Meachem had a bowling fundraiser.  I went out and took part in that.  It was another nice event.

Alright…..I’m gonna go relax.  It’s been a great Christmas Day and I hope that all of you have had a wonderful Christmas!

Who Dat!

Pierre Thomas #23

13-0………………Can we make it to 14-0?!

Hey everybody in Who Dat Nation!  How’s your week going?  Do you guys have your Holiday shopping done?  I’m close to being done.  We had off Monday and Tuesday, so I was out there trying to get most of it finished up, but I still have a little more to do next week.

So, Sunday was a tough game for us!  I knew they’d come out and play hard.  First of all, I’ve gotta give credit to our defense.  They came up big for us at just the moment we needed it.  Vilma was a beast out there on Sunday!  We’re just glad we walked out of the Georgia Dome with a win! …. We seriously have the BEST fans in the NFL!  You guys showed up in Atlanta and we could hear you cheering for us!  Thank you!  I hope you guys know how much that motivates us!

How do you guys feel about a game on a Saturday night? …. I’m pretty excited about it……and it’s at home in the Dome?!?!  There’s so much “talk” surrounding this week’s game…………The fact that it’s the team that Coach Payton and some of the other coaches came from……….The fact that Roy Williams made a comment about the game during an interview………the fact that the last time we played the Cowboys, it was on their turf and the Saints totally shut them down (Karney was ballin’ that night!)……..the fact that everybody says that the Cowboys have a tough time during the month of December (just for the record – they played HARD on Sunday against the Chargers…they very well could have won that game)……..Saturday’s game is going to be TOUGH!

Today, we got back to work and turned our focus on Saturday’s game plan.  As a guy on offense, we focus on defensive game film of the Cowboys.  I think I speak for the rest of my offensive teammates when I say that we are definitely interested in seeing of Demarcus Ware will be lining up on the other side of the ball, or if he will have to sit out this week from the injury he sustained in Sunday’s game.  (My sympathy goes out to Demarcus from that injury.  That didn’t look good at all.  I’m happy that he has come out of that and things look very positive for him.)  Demarcus is one of those guys that changes things up for us.  He’s a great player for the Cowboys’ Defense.

We have alot of work to do in preparation for Saturday night, but…………I’m already pumped up!  I just know you guys are gonna have the Dome rockin’!!! …. Just a reminder:  When we’re on offense, please be quiet!  When we’re on defense………..ROCK THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The louder you guys are, the tougher it is for Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense to make plays!

Before closing, I just wanted to thank everyone who came out to see me in the Hammond area on Tuesday.  I really had a good time!  It was nice to meet everyone, and thanks for your support!

Geaux Saints!!

Who Dat!

Pierre Thomas #23

12-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………….I’m So Glad I Can Say That!

Hey everybody!  OK, so the game was a nailbiter, wasn’t it?!  I’m apologizing to all of our fans for giving you all a scare!  That was just WAY to close for comfort.  It was a weird way to be named NFC South Champs!

The Redskins came out ready to play.  We knew they’d be ready, but they really gave us a battle.

When I look back at the game, one thing that I think of is how hard we tried to pull away during the game and we just couldn’t find a way.  Thankfully, we were right in there with them, but for about 58 minutes of the game, we couldn’t find a way to pull ahead.  I’ve got to give credit to our defense.  They came up big right when we needed them to with the INT and fumble.  We’re pretty lucky that their kicker missed the FG too.  For his sake, I’m sorry he missed it because he has since been released by the team.  But, the missed field goal left the door open for us to come back.

Honestly, I don’t have much more to say about that game.  I’m just glad it’s over and we walked away from it with a “W”.

As a team, we definitely watched film from Sunday’s game so that we can correct our mistakes, but aside from that we have moved on.  We are focused on Sunday’s game in Atlanta.  If you’re a Saints fan, then you know that there’s a solid rivalry between the Falcons and the Saints.  I don’t care what each team’s record is during the season…..none of that matters when we set foot on the field for gameday.

Two things stick out in my mind from the first time we played them on MNF in November:

1)       We can’t lose the turnover battle this time around.  We have to focus on holding onto the ball.

2)      They had success running the ball against us, so they’re gameplan will probably feature their RB’s.  (I don’t think we know if Michael Turner is playing or not.  But, they do have two other good backs in Norwood and Snelling.)

Matt Ryan is supposed to be back in the lineup against us on Sunday.  He’s a good QB, and he adds a lot to their offense.  You know that I hope we come out of Sunday’s game 13-0, but it’s definitely going to be a battle! ……. One thing I know for sure —–> The Who Dats will be in the Georgia Dome!  I know we’ll hear you guys cheering for us.  Please know that we wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for the support of our fans!!

So…….a little non-football talk………………Yesterday, Lance and I did an autograph signing at a furniture store out in Westwego.  It was GREAT to see the fans that came out to say hello.  Thanks to those of you that I met out there!

Next week, on December 15^th (6-8 pm), I’ll be doing an autograph signing at a trading card shop in the Hammond/Albany, LA area.  Google it online to learn more about the details in case you’ll be in the area!

Tomorrow night (Thursday, December 10^th) a bunch of my teammates and I will be attending Zach Strief’s charity event.  The event is being held at Generations Hall (Club Metro) from 7-10 pm.  I’m not sure if they are selling tickets at the door or not.  I know that all the proceeds benefit Zach’s foundation and Café Reconcile.  A bunch of us are planning to be out there supporting Zach.  He’s a great guy and his foundation is working to do great things here in NOLA.  Zach said that tickets are $35 each and it’s “casual black and gold” attire………….

Alright, good night Black & Gold Nation!

Who Dat!

Pierre Thomas #23

11-0 ….. Seriously…We are 11-0!!!

Wow!  We are 11-0!!!!  This is such a great feeling!  Monday night was AWESOME!!!!!!!  Thanks to every single fan in the Dome for being there to support us!  You guys had that place ROCKIN’!!!  I had so much fun, and so did the entire team!  We knew we were ready to take the field Monday and give the Patriots all that we had, but the outcome of the game was so much better than I think we every expected!

How ’bout Mike McKenzie stepping in like that for Randall Gay and comin’ up huge on those plays!  I was so happy for him!  He’s a GREAT guy and I’m so glad he was still out there available to come back and play for us when we needed him.  Then, Darren Sharper with ANOTHER pick?! …. That was awesome!

There were so many components of Monday night that came together to help us win….naturally Drew, Coach P, and Coach Williams on the defensive side of the ball, but I’ve got to give ALOT of credit to our Offensive Line.  That’s where EVERYTHING started for us on offense Monday night.  Those guys gave Drew time to make smart decisions.  They gave Mike, Lynell, and room to run with the ball.  They played their butts off on Monday night and I want everyone to know how great our O-Line is!  They’re great on the field, but they’re also GREAT GUYS off the field!  Jon Stinchcomb is one of our best leaders.  We are really lucky to have him.

Okay, I could go on and on about Monday night, but………..it’s over!  We’re past that game and onto the Redskins.  But, before I talk about Sunday’s game, I just wanted to thank ALL of our fans.  Obviously not everyone could be in The Dome on Monday night.  But, as I’ve been out and about this week running errands or grabbing a bite to eat, people keep coming up and congratulating me.  We truly have the best fans in the NFL and I want to thank all of you for being there for us this season!

So………Saturday we head to DC for our Sunday game against the Redskins.  OK, first of all it’s gonna be COLD!!! …. I guess it’s been kind of good for us to have some colder weather in NOLA this week, because it will probably help us out when we take the field on Sunday.  But, STILL…..it’s gonna be cold!

The Redskins may not have a great record, but we know it’s gonna be a battle on the field.  Like I said before, EVERY player on EVERY team practices all week to win.  I know they’ve got the #2 ranked pass defense in the league right now.  So, it should be interesting to see how our passing game works for us on Sunday.  If we play like we did on Monday night, then we’ve got a good chance!  Maybe in our favor is the fact that they are ranked #25 in run defense.  I know Mike, Lynell, and I would love to play a key part in a win on Sunday!!

Welllllll……we’ll see what happens Sunday at Noon CST, won’t we?!

I hope that everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving?!

Who Dat!

Pierre Thomas #23