Who dat!? Who dat!? Who dat say they gonna beat them Saints? For most years of the New Orleans football franchise’s pitiful existence, the answer to that question was any team who could show up to the stadium on time.This team has historically stunk.It boasts an all-time regular season record of 268-381-5, including the first five weeks of the 2009 season. The team has visited the postseason six times, and its playoff record is a dismal 2-6. Additionally, the Saints are one of five teams in the league who have never been to a Super Bowl.But all that seems to be behind the franchise this season. The former ‘Aints are off to a fast 4-0 start and look to be one of the teams to beat in the NFL.Things seem to be falling in place for New Orleans, and although this is terribly premature, this could finally be the year where Saints fans are treated to their mythical “Black and Gold Super Bowl.”It really could. Hear me out.It’s no secret New Orleans has boasted one of the most potent offensive attacks in the league for the last few seasons.Last season, the Saints finished No. 1 in the league in yards per game with 410.7 — nearly 15 yards more than the next closest team. They also finished No. 1 in scoring and No. 1 in passing yards with 28.9 points and 311.1 yards, respectively.Quarterback Drew Brees has emerged as a top-five quarterback in the league statistically and last season fell just 16 yards shy of breaking former Dolphins legend Dan Marino’s single-season passing record of 5,084 yards.He and the Saints running back corps have led the offense to once again being at the top of the league.Running backs Mike Bell, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas have combined for 589 yards on 114 carries and five touchdowns.Through week five, New Orleans is No. 3 in total yards with 414.2, No. 2 in rushing yards per game with 166.2 a contest and No. 11 in passing yards with 248 per game.But it’s not the offense who has me thinking the Saints could really make a legitimate run at a Vince Lombardi trophy.The Saints have won a couple of games this season using good defense.That’s been pretty surprising because this unit has been the Achilles heel of the franchise for the last couple of seasons.In 2007 the defense finished No. 26 in the league in total yards after allowing 348.1 yards a game, and in 2008 the unit improved slightly to No. 23 in the same category after allowing 339.5 yards per game.New Orleans fired its former defensive coordinator, Gary Gibbs, after the 2008 season and hired veteran coordinator Gregg Williams.The Saints also made what I consider the best pickup of the last free agency period besides Minnesota’s signing of quarterback Brett Favre when the Saints signed former Vikings’ safety Darren Sharper.Obviously these things worked.New Orleans is No. 6 in the league in yards allowed, with only 295.2 a game, and leads the league in interceptions, with 10.Sharper has been an absolute beast at his position this season.He leads the league in interceptions. Through four games, he already has five interceptions — two returned for touchdowns.Playing well on both sides of the ball will help the Saints, but they’ll also benefit from poor play from the rest of the teams in their division, the NFC South.The bottom dwellers of the division, Tampa Bay and Carolina, are giving a new definition of what it means to suck. They’ve amassed a combined record of 1-8 and have combined for a -119 point differential.Carolina is No. 15 in total defense after allowing 321.3 yards per game, but the Buccaneers are much worse. They sit at No. 28 in the league after allowing 379.8 per game. Neither team can score, though, as the Panthers are No. 28 in points per game and Tampa Bay is No. 29 with 14.2 and 13.6 points per game, respectively.The other team in the division, the hated Atlanta Falcons, could be the only real competition for the elusive NFC South crown, as they’re 3-1.Atlanta’s offense isn’t as explosive as New Orleans, nor is its defense as stingy. The Falcons average 346.5 yards on offense per game and allow 355.8 yards per game on defense.The Saints have looked better than them thus far.All things considered, New Orleans has all the tools to make a run at the Super Bowl.This could be the season when they finally cast aside the demons of years gone by and actually do something worthwhile.Just maybe.Johanathan Brooks is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Powder Springs, Ga. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_jbrooks.–Contact Johanathan Brooks at [email protected]