updated 12:36 a.m. ET Jan. 14, 2007

NEW ORLEANS - Roger Goodell picked up the vibe immediately.

The NFL commissioner stopped by Saturday just to get a taste of the atmosphere inside the Louisiana Superdome for the Saints’ second-round playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Verdict: definitely jumpin’. Especially after the Saints won, 27-24.

“I’ve think they’ve taken it to another level. We felt the enthusiasm as soon as we walked in,” said Goodell, who was en route to San Diego, where the Chargers play New England on Sunday.

“To see the Saints be able to bring their franchise back here and be able to get operating and then have the success on the field, that’s incredible,” Goodell said. “So we’re optimistic about the future. ... There’s still a lot of questions about the community. But we’re here to see what we can do to be a part of the solution.”

Goodell was here for the Sept. 25 Monday night game against Atlanta when the Superdome reopened following Hurricane Katrina.

This time, he lingered on the plaza surrounding the stadium to watch a free concert headlined by the Steve Miller Band.

Goodell once again applauded the city and region for its efforts to bring the Saints back, but stopped short of saying anything definitive about the long-term future of the team in the city.

The Saints, established in 1967, have had a loyal following despite many years of losing. The team has been held up as a source of inspiration as New Orleans rebuilds from Katrina.

“What I’ve often said about our NFL teams is that, success on the field is important — obviously, we want to do well from a business standpoint — but really what defines the success of the league is when you have that kind of relationship with the community,” Goodell said.

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