When New Orleans linebacker Alex Anzalone ran onto the field for the Saints’ season-opener this past Sunday, the Superdome was, well, pretty quiet.
Not having fans there will have that effect.
“I’m not going to lie: it was pretty weird,” Anzalone told JRSportBrief. “Coming out of the tunnel at first, the smoke and everything was going off and you’re coming out to no cheers. That was pretty weird. But as the game got along, you kind of got into it. As a competitor, you’re just out there competing. You play the game because you love it no matter who you’re playing in front of. That’s kind of how I go about my business.”
Saints fans, of course, are among the most raucous in the NFL, and it’s possible their absence affected the team, at least in the first quarter. New Orleans fell behind Tampa Bay 7-0 before reeling off 24 unanswered points and winning 34-23.
“It’s definitely some adjusting,” Anzalone said. “It’s not like that normal Superdome crowd. We’ll see how the year goes. Hopefully we get the fans back in there as the season goes along.”
Drew Brees did not post gaudy numbers last week – he finished 18-of-30 for 160 yards and two touchdowns – but his focus, even in his 20th NFL season, is as strong as ever.
“Every time you walk by the quarterbacks’ film room, you see him in there with the other guys,” Anzalone said. “That’s just the day in and day out during the week. His attention to detail is top-of-the-notch. That’s really what makes him so great. Obviously he’s super talented, but that just takes him over the top to the Hall of Fame level where he’s at.”
The Saints (1-0) will take their show on the road in Week 2. They face the Raiders (1-0) on Monday Night Football at 8:15 p.m. ET.