Don Pierson

NEW ORLEANS - "When the Saints Go Marching In" never sounded better than it did Monday night after the New Orleans Saints trounced the Atlanta Falcons 23-3 in the gala reopening of the Superdome.

In the wild aftermath, it was difficult to determine which rebuilding job is more improbable-the Superdome or the Saints, who already have matched their number of wins last year when they were 3-13 playing in San Antonio and Baton Rouge.

"We gave the game ball to the City of New Orleans," said coach Sean Payton. "The night belongs to the people of New Orleans. If they do go to work tomorrow, they'll go with a little bit of a swagger."

When Saints special teams ace Steve Gleason blocked the Falcons' first punt to give the Saints their first touchdown only 90 seconds after opening kickoff, the crowd of 70,003 knew this was more than just a game.

The block seemed providential, just as the bright, sunny day that replaced Sunday's drenching rain and enabled Saints fans to spend all afternoon walking the streets to welcome back their team more than a year after Hurricane Katrina chased the Saints away along with many homeless citizens.

The Saints are now alone on top of the NFC South Division after handing the Falcons their first loss while sacking slippery quarterback Michael Vick five times and keeping him out of the end zone.

"It was definitely the loudest crowd I ever played in front of," Vick said.

"The word homecoming will take on new meaning and will forever be redefined by what is happening here in the Superdome," former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said.

It was Tagliabue who spearheaded efforts to renovate the Superdome in time to house the Saints this season. The NFL donated $15 million toward the $185 million cost to repair damage after the city's largest public space housed more than 30,000 refugees for a week.

FEMA picked up $116 million of the cost from funds earmarked for state-owned property, taxpayer money separate from funds to renovate individual housing, according to Doug Thornton of SMG, the Superdome's management company.

Rita Benson LeBlanc, grand-daughter of Saints' owner Tom Benson, spoke to the symbolism of the Superdome.

"We still face challenges in rebuilding our homes and our businesses. At the same time, this is proof of what we can accomplish if we can all work together," LeBlanc said. "We are proud to take this occasion to announce to the world that New Orleans is open for business."

Whether the Saints stay in business in New Orleans for the long-term remains open to question despite Monday night's celebration. Asked by the New Orleans Times-Picayune if he could make a long-term commitment, Tom Benson said: "No, because you don't know what the future's going to bring right now."

Nothing could dampen the emotion of Monday night.