Saints Fans Somber As Dream Season Ends

City Saddened As Football Team's Remarkable Run Halted After Loss To Chicago

(CBS/AP)  The sparse French Quarter crowd was somber — if not sober — following the New Orleans Saints' loss to the Chicago Bears in the NFC title game.

"It's like the night of the living dead out here. Zombies," said Lisa Losito, a server at Swampy's Louisiana Cookery on Bourbon Street. Business at the restaurant was down from the usual Sunday, she said. "I don't think the city's taking it too well."

Yet in the team's honor, a New Orleans-style funeral was held, not to lament a death they said, but to celebrate a rebirth, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

The Saints' dream season came to a heartbreaking end Sunday, abruptly sending fans across the city back to the stark reality of post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans.

For weeks, the Saints' drive to Sunday's NFC title game served as a welcome relief to a city still struggling to rebuild from the storm. But the Chicago Bears' 39-14 win on their home field ended hopes that the once-woeful Saints would reach the Super Bowl for the first time in the team's 40-year history.

For fan Dawn Emery, the game was about more than football.

"The Saints really have become an icon," Emery said. "The struggle, their coming back from defeat, it represents where we all have come from."

Finn McCools, an Irish pub in Mid-City that took on six feet of water after Katrina, was filled with rowdy fans — some, standing four and five deep at the bar — even before the game started. By the time the game ended, though, only a few dozen die-hards remained. One of those was Michelle Kelly — perhaps the only Bears' fan there.

"I'm happy for my team, but I feel bad. The people here are going to be so sad, so sad for months," Kelly said. "The Saints needed it more than the Bears."

After the game, Saints coach Sean Payton was thinking about the far-away fans.

"This hurt we have right now as a team and as an organization eventually will go away, but there's a lot of pain and a lot of things that are disappointing for people back in that city that aren't going away real quickly," Payton said.

"There's a lot that needs to be done, and the only thing that's disappointing is not playing in next game, which allows a city a couple more weeks of excitement obviously leading up to the Super Bowl."

In the French Quarter, hot dog vendor James Eovaldi, standing behind stacks of unused buns, said he expected to sell just 50 hot dogs, instead of the usual 500 after a game. "I can't believe they lost. It's terrible," he said. "Very terrible."

Bartenders in the Quarter weren't seeing their business particularly affected.

"Fans of both teams are in town. Some celebrate, some sulk," said Megan Clark, barkeeper at the Maison Bourbon jazz club. "Alcohol goes well with both."

Outside another, louder, bar, Monica Everage said she and her friends were taking the loss hard. "They can't really express how they feel, because they're under the influence of alcohol to keep up their spirits," she said.

While fans were disappointed with the loss, most said they were still proud of the Saints, who had come from a 3-13 season last year to end this season in the NFC title game — uncharted territory for New Orleans.

"If you're from here and are a Saints fan, Sunday dictated how a week went," said Ben Tarantino, who was hanging around Finn McCools after the game. On Monday, he said, "It'll be all right. It'll be another day. And we'll look forward to the draft in April."

[jt92202]

I like how the press and NFL made the Saint's out to be the little darlings of the NFL this year!! Yes they had a good team and had great games but I get tired of them shoving their ideas down our throats!! I love my team and wanted them to go to the superbowl not the Saints, and for them to get all the press they got for losing is stupid. I too felt bad about Katrina but come on enough is enough!! Let the teams play and the chips will fall where they will!

Now we have to hear the media for 2 weeks about how Payton Manning is so great and Rex Grossman is so bad! I get really tired of the politics involved in these sports I just want to watch and enjoy each team. Hearing what the media thinks is fine to a point but stop shoving your opinions down our throats!!

Lover of most sports but really I am starting to hate the MEDIA!!!!

[thgdriver]

The NFL tried their best to put this team in the super bowl thankfully their scam did not work.

The officiating at the Saints games was biased. I am glad the bears were able to beat the Saints and the officials on the field.

[luvdpatriots]

Dear Saints.....know how you're feeling but do try to keep in mind all the wonderful games and excitement your team brought to all of you. They had a great season as did the Patriots....I love my Pats and look forward to next year. In my eyes, the Patriots will always be number ONE and to you, the Saints are the best. Those guys worked hard and need an, "atta boy".