New Orleans-- The 2009 New Orleans Saints are 10-0, one of only two undefeated NFL teams, and the undisputed TV hit of the fall season.
Four weeks ago, the Saints Monday Night Football game versus Atlanta scored a staggering 83 share of the television audience, a Super Bowl worthy number.
In fact, that game and recent Sunday games have outdone recent Super Bowls in the New Orleans television market, according to the Nielsen company.
"We're beating that number," said Heidi Hoffmeister, WVUE-TV program director. "The Saints are beating that number every week, every week. It's insane."
The Monday Night contest versus the New England Patriots may outdo them all.
"I think it's second to the homecoming," said Jerry Romig, the Saints public address announcer.
Romig believes for the players, New England tops the homecoming, a chance to knock off the NFL's Team of the Decade.
"I see Monday night at the Peace d' Resistance," said Romig. " We show this team who we are, how good we are."
The Patriots' status is not lost on the general public, whether avid football fans or the previously uninterested.
"You have people like my mother, who's not a football fan," said Hoffmeister. "(She) couldn't care less about (football), but she's now watching the game."
