Stop reading this. Go outside right now, and tell me what you see. Do you see the hitch hikers? Don’t be surprised. There are more where that came from because everybody is trying to jump on the Saints bandwagon now.

The Saints have shed the infamous “The Aints” moniker, which many people used in the not so distant past. This year the Saints ain’t doormats.

After defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-21, the Saints are off to a 4-1 start. Although the Saints should have blown out the depleted Buccaneers there are no style points in the NFL and for a franchise that has been cursed with losing, any win is appreciated.

Rookie Reggie Bush finally found the end zone, which sealed the victory for the Saints. As the Saints trailed 21-17 in the forth quarter, Bush returned a punt for a 65-yard touchdown.

“When I heard they were getting Reggie Bush, I knew they were playoff bound,” said Southern

University graduate and former high school football player Ryan Irving.

This may be the season Saint fans have been waiting for. It has been almost six years since the Saints made the playoffs. Even that year the Saints started off 2-3 and did not look like a playoff team. The Saints squeezed by the Rams in NFC wildcard game 31-28 only to be thrashed by Randy Moss and the Vikings 16-34.

Matt Vines, sport writer for LSU’s Daily Reveille, said that before the season started he thought the Saints would only have one win at this point of the schedule. He said that he has been surprised with the Saints especially the offensive line and receivers.

This year Saints fans are eager to see just how far the Saints.

Playoffs? Not a stretch. NFC championship? I don’t know. Super Bowl? Let’s worry about the Eagles for now.

The Saints have to gear up to face Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints defense must find a way to stop McNabb’s aerial assault. McNabb is off to an excellent start with 11 touchdowns and only one interception. Ex-Saint and current Eagles receiver Donte Stallworth is still questionable at this time but if he plays he could spell trouble for the Saints’ secondary.

“This year anyone who comes to the Dome can lose,” Vines said. “The Dome is on an emotional high and the players are going to feed off that. I think Philadelphia is going to win but they are going to have a tough time.”

There are 12 games left and anything can happen. The Falcons still look like a contender with Michael Vick and Baton Rouge native Warrick Dunn running by defensives league wide. The Panthers and former Saint Jake Delhomme will look to defeat the Saints once again this season. They will face off the last week of the season. The Buccaneers showed they can play with the Saints and cannot be taken lightly.

Vines predicts the Saints will go 9-7 or 10-6 on their way to a wildcard spot. Irving predicts 13-3 record with a trip to the NFC championship.

As long as the Saints don’t get caught up in the hype or let the packed bandwagon slow them down, they should let the good times roll at least to the playoffs.