Snap. Crackle. Pop.

Heard that?

The snap was Saints cornerback Jason David’s broken forearm that will sideline him for the next six weeks.

The crackle was the crumbling of the massive Saints bandwagon built up over the past year.

The pop? The pop was the worst of all. That was the sound coming from Deuce McAllister’s knee as he tore his anterior crucial ligament for the second time – although this time in the other knee. His season is over and his career is in jeopardy.

Entering the bye week, the chic pick to make Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. is 0-3 and heading in the wrong direction.

Drew Brees looks nothing like the quarterback that threw for 26 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions a year ago. In the last three games, he has only one touchdown pass and seven interceptions, including four in Sept. 24’s 31-14 defeat against the Tennessee Titans.

Reggie Bush, who is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry this season, will now have to take on the majority of the carries and prove that he can run between the tackles.

He will have help from veteran running back Aaron Stecker and undrafted rookie free agent signing Pierre Thomas, who made a big enough impression on coaches in the preseason that the team released fourth-round draft pick Antonio Pittman.

The offensive line has looked absymal and hasn’t given Brees the time he needs in the pocket to find his receivers. On the other hand, Brees has become gun-shy and doesn’t appear to trust any receivers besides Marques Colston, tight end Eric Johnson, backup Lance Moore or Bush.

It’s a bit of a problem when you only trust four players on your entire team to receive.

On defense, David had been burned for five touchdowns but also provided the Saints’ only touchdown in Week 1 (a fumble return) and intercepted Vince Young on Week 3, although his man beat him on that play, and he just happened to be in the right spot at the right time. Rookie Usama Young and veteran Fred Thomas will have to step up in his absence.

There are already pundits out there who are calling the 2006 season a fluke. The same ones who were picking the Saints to win, or at least go to, Super Bowl XLII are writing them off.

But after those first three performances … who wouldn’t?

Help is needed in a big way and soon. So maybe this bye week is coming at the right time. Hopefully, when they return against Carolina in a few weeks, coach Sean Payton will right the ship, and the Saints that everyone knew last season will be back.

It’s going to happen like that … right?