To celebrate the 45th season of "Monday Night Football," a panel of ESPN.com contributors has selected the 45 most memorable moments in MNF history. Follow along as we reveal one per day and count down to this season's MNF debut.
No. 5: Saints 23, Falcons 3 | Sept. 25, 2006
The 2005 New Orleans Saints used the term "home game" very loosely. All eight of the Saints' home games were played away from the Superdome, which faced far more pressing issues than hosting football games as it temporarily served as an emergency shelter for more than 20,000 New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina.Just more than a year after Katrina hit in late August 2005, the Saints returned to the Superdome to host the Atlanta Falcons and their first real home game in 638 days. The city and its fans were desperate for a reason to cheer, and it took the Saints just 90 seconds to oblige.
After a Scott Fujita sack of QB Michael Vick, Falcons punter Michael Koenen's punt was blocked by Saints special-teamer Steve Gleason and Curtis Deloatch fell on the ball in the end zone. That play wasn't the first touchdown allowed by the Falcons that season -- it was instead a giant cathartic release for all 70,003 fans who packed the sold-out Superdome.
To Drew Brees, making his first home start as the Saints' quarterback, the play was a sign.
"That set the tone," Brees said. "That's when we all knew. This was our day, our night."
#ThrowbackMNF: Now it's your turn. Share your most vivid MNF memories, photos and videos on Twitter at @ESPNMondayNight or on ESPN's "Monday Night Football" Facebook page by using #ThrowbackMNF. Reader submissions: Sept. 8 | Sept. 4 | Sept. 3.
