So what was your favorite moment of the Matt Baker era?

Thursday night the Saints head up to the part of the Louisiana Purchase now known as Missourah, The Blow Me State, to battle Herm Edwards’ Chiefs.

Ah, Kansas City. Where the only thing on the dinner menu more popular than the ribs is the giant bowl of crystal meth.

Yes, Kansas City. Where Joe Montana and Marcus Allen went to die. (Actually, Montana is very much alive. But not to worry, you won’t disturb him. He’ll be in his room masturbating.)

I’ll be dead in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missourah, home of the world’s most buttoned down, plastic fantastic, no character, forget-about-the-meat barbecue sauce on the planet. Masterpiece my ass. Brisket > ribs anyway.

Which is why it’s going to be such a thrill to see listen to the Saints put it to the Chiefs the way Abe Lincoln put it to Valentine Tapley’s ability to get chicks.

In theory, the Saints ought to mop the floor with these chumps. Which is good, because much like the Bengals, the Chiefs don’t really interest me a whole lot. Seriously, Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle? Meh. Where’s Elvis Grbac when you need him?

I do find it interesting that on the Chiefs’ official unofficial depth chart, there’s one position conspicuously missing. Hmmmm. Is it just me, or is it blatantly obvious to you that what we’re looking at here is an impending Jamie Martin for Derrick Johnson trade? No? Just me? Shit.

Theoretically, this is when the Saints ought to give their starters most of the work, or at least refrain from pulling them until it’s 56-0.

Which is not to say that the Saints won’t be challenged. It’ll be interesting to see how the Saints’ defensive backfield handles Eddie Kennison, Samie Parker and Dwayne Bowe. Tony Gonzalez will of course be the best TE the Saints will have had to deal with. Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes are back, and should give the Saints’ run defense their toughest test to date. Derrick Johnson is a monster.

Okay fine, 49-6.

You have to figure that Coach Payton and crew have already drawn up a list of the first round of cuts. The question becomes whether the staff shelves these guys, or gives them one last shot to try to get themselves off that list. My guess is the former, so it’ll be interesting to see the progression of substitutions as the game wears on.

I suppose there will be a few interesting things to watch for on the KC side. Donnie Edwards was rumored to be coming to the Saints for a year and a half. Plenty of people, myself included, were tremendously pissed when the Chiefs took Dwayne Bowe off the draft board before the Saints could get to him. Eddie Kennison is still in the league! A Kyle Turley sighting is always good for a chuckle.

But for me, this game is all about the Saints. Two-plus quarters of starters vs. starters baby! The latest seems to be that Faine and Brown will be back on the o-line, which is nice. But Colston and Jack Hunt are probably going to be held out again, which I’m actually happy about. I want to see Patten, Copper and Lance Moore really tested against first stringers for an extended period of time.

Because (not that I’m panicking or anything) it could turn out that one or more of those guys is gonna find himself having to start a game or two or three in the regular season. Right now we’re all over the moon re: Moore, and most of us seem to be pleased with the way Copper is coming along, for the most part (hold onto the damn ball, Terrance!) And it doesn’t look like Patten is washed up. But a longer look will be helpful in establishing to what extent these guys are legit, or a preseason mirage.

That being said, don’t we all already know how that’s gonna turn out? All three of those guys are gonna kick ass by the truckload. At least for as long as Drew’s in there throwing to them.

An extended look will also be a good thing defensively, after the impressive effort against Cincinnati, for the same reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not like the Chiefs are some kind of offensive juggernaut. They were only 16th last year in total offense.

But they were 9th rushing, and that was without Priest Holmes. (In East L.A., when you’ve sinned, you yell “I need a priest, holmes!”) Between Larry Johnson, Priest and Michael Bennett, we should be able to get a pretty good idea whether or not the new and improved run defense is for real or not.

On the other hand, the Chiefs were only 22nd in passing offense last year. So there might not be a whole lot to be learned about the defensive backfield this week. Pending Dwayne Bowe, of course. The linebackers ought to be tested though by Tony Gonzalez, and that will be interesting to watch. Simoneau seems about 50/50 to play. I hope he does, assuming he’s gonna be the guy dealing with the TEs in the regular season.

If anyone reading this is going to be there Thursday night, there’s a fabulous prize in it for you if you find Gunther Cunningham and punch him in the throat and/or groin. Yes, I’m still sore about the cheap shots in the joint practice back in 97.