This time last year, the New Orleans Saints were debating who they were going to take with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft.

The importance of that is they owned the No. 2 pick, signifying they possessed the second-worst record for the 2005 season.

Now, the squad will have to decide where to get the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago.

In the span of one year, the Saints have gone from a really, really bad team that North America was pulling for in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to a squad that is one game away from the Super Bowl.

If you remember, the 2005 Saints couldn't play on their home field at the Superdome because of extensive damage done by the hurricane. They played "home" games in East Rutherford, N.J., (Giants Stadium), San Antonio, Tulane University and Baton Rouge, La.

The result? A team that went 3-13 behind erratic quarterback Aaron Brooks (2,882 yards, 13 TD, 17 INT), leading running back Antowain Smith (659 yards as Deuce McAllister was injured most of the season) and leading receiver Donte' Stallworth (70 catches for 945 yards).

If you thought the Superdome had an extreme makeover to get ready for this season, the Saints did an about face on the roster — and its fortunes were reversed.

Former Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Sean Payton was hired and would go on to win coach of the year honors.

Quarterback Drew Brees, who appeared ready to sign with the Miami Dolphins, instead chose the Saints. All he did was challenge Dan Marino's passing yards record, finishing the regular season with 4,418 yards on 356-of-554 passing for 26 scores and 11 interceptions.

The No. 2 pick? That went to former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush (565 yards rushing six TDs, 88 catches for 742 yards, 2 TDs).

Add a healthy McAllister (1,057 yards rushing, 10 TDs, 30 catches for 198 yards) and pull some magic out of Hofstra University with wide receiver Marques Colston (70 catches, 1,038 yards, 8 TDs), as well as receivers Devery Henderson (32-745-5), Joe Horn (37-679-4) and Terrance Copper (23-385-3), and you can see the Saints were a surprise as well as a blessing.

They became the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs with a 10-6 record and the first team in history to lose at least 13 games, then reach the conference championship game the next.

In 40 years of existence (Remember the "Aints?"), the Saints had won only one playoff game until they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-24 on Saturday to reach their first NFC Championship game.

Last season, Horn blasted the league for setting the Saints up to fail. Actually, that was the team's own doing. They struggled early and wallowed in self-pity, despite the outpouring of support they received from fans and teams alike.

This year, an major overhaul has helped the team forget 2005, as well as its own past failures, and brighter days are on the horizon for New Orleans.

Never mind the annoying Cincinnati Bengals' rallying cry of 'Who Dey?' The Saints have been saying 'Who Dat?' for years.

Now, they finally mean it.