Saints offense has kept playoff-savvy core intact (The Associated Press)

[HotOffTheWire]

As Drew Brees heads into the playoffs with New Orleans for a fifth time in eight years, he has a lot of familiar faces joining him. Five key players on this season's offense were part of the 2006 Saints, who went to the NFC title game. ''We have been through a lot together,'' said Brees, who has been teammates with receivers Marques Colston and Lance Moore, as well as offensive linemen Jahri Evans and Zach Strief, for eight years. You know how much we have invested.'' In 2007, receiver Robert Meachem arrived as a first-round draft choice and running back Pierre Thomas as an undrafted free agent.

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