NFC Playoffs: Ranking the Biggest Threats for the New Orleans Saints

Okay, so the New Orleans Saints didn’t exactly end the season on high note as they enter the playoffs.

You’ve probably seen the stat by now: No team has ever won the Super Bowl when they enter the playoffs on a three-game losing streak.

Who. Cares.

At least they’re not the New York Giants.

Or the Denver Broncos.

Up until ten years ago, no dome team had ever won the Super Bowl. Since then, the St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts both have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

There’s a first for everything.

Officially, the road to Miami for the NFC, host of Super Bowl XLIV, goes through the venue which has hosted the most Super Bowls (six), the Louisiana Superdome.

Owners of the conference’s best record at 13-3, the Saints are afforded the chance to rest their players who are nursing a variety of injuries and host one and possibly two playoff games.

It’s been quite a while since New Orleans has had all if it’s key players healthy at the same time.

Running back Pierre Thomas and tight ends David Thomas and Jeremy Shockey have all missed time recently with an assortment of injuries.

Sunday’s game against the Panthers marked the first time in eight weeks that Saints played a game with both starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. Outside linebackers Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita combined to miss seven games during the second half of the season.

All seven of these players are expected to be close to or at full strength for the playoffs.

That’s the good news.

The bad news (or newz if you’re Mike Vick) is that New Orleans has some obstacles in its path through the playoffs.

Each of the other five NFC playoff teams are very capable of beating the Saints.

Here, I will rank each team according to how well the Saints match up against them. The higher the number, the better the matchup is for the Saints.

 

5. Philadelphia Eagles

New Orleans beat the Eagles in Philadelphia in week two, 48-22. While the Eagles were without Donovan McNabb, defense was the main issue for the Eagles in this game.

The Saints scored five offensive touchdowns as Brees connected with nine different receivers.

While Eagles have a respectable running game, they don’t run with the consistency needed to bleed to clock and keep Drew Brees off the field. Philly possessed the ball on average three and a half minutes fewer than their opponents.

Defensively, the Eagles rank 17th against the pass and just 19th in points allowed.

The Saints and Eagles will have a divisional round rematch if Philadelphia beats Dallas in the wild card round.

New Orleans defeated Philadelphia in the divisional round during the 2006 season.

 

4. Arizona Cardinals

The NFC’s fourth seed has the worst conference record (8-4) of the six playoff teams and won four of its ten games against two division opponents which are among the worst in the NFL.

The Cardinals, like the Eagles, aren’t going to run keep the Saints offense off the field with their rushing attack as they only run the ball 37 percent of the time.

Arizona has had trouble holding onto the ball as they have a league-high 18 lost fumbles and an overall minus seven turnover ratio.

For all the fuss over receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, neither has a yard per catch average this season that ranks in the top 100 in the NFL. Fitgerald’s longest reception this year is just 34 yards while Boldin’s is 44 yards.

 

3. Minnesota Vikings

Every Vikings’ loss came on the road. In fact, Minnesota’s 4-4 road record is the worst among NFC playoff teams.

At first glance, Adrian Peterson against the Saints’ front seven seems like a mismatch. However, he went six straight games (weeks 11-16) without a 100-yard game or four yards per carry, including a 19-yard effort in a 30-17 loss to the Cardinals.

If these two teams meet in the NFC championship game, look for the Saints’ running backs and tight ends exploit matchups against Vikings’ backup linebacker Jasper Brinkley. Brinkley is filling in for the injured E.J. Henderson and has struggled in pass coverage.

Defensive end Jared Allen has 14.5 sacks on the year but has just two in the past five weeks.

Speaking just schematically,the Vikings’ 4-3 alignment should be easier for the Saints’ offensive line to block than a more unpredictable 3-4 alignment.

 

2. Green Bay Packers

Speaking of unpredictable 3-4 defenses, the Packers have made a remarkable transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

Rookie linebacker Clay Matthew has emerged as a leader in the front seven and cornerback Charles Woodson has matched Saints safety Darren Sharper’s numbers with nine interceptions and three touchdowns.

The Packers as a team are second in yards allowed and seventh in points allowed.

Aaron Rodgers is the unquestioned leader of the offense and has explosive play-makers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings at his disposal. Rookie tight end Jermichael Finley is also sure to give the Saints’ linebackers fits.

 

1. Dallas Cowboys

The first team to beat the Saints this season is also the Saints biggest roadblock to the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys, maybe the NFC’s most talented team, have the ability to exploit the Saints’ two biggest weaknesses: consistency in the run defense and pass protection against 3-4 defenses.

The Cowboys’ dynamic rushing attack tore up the Saints’ front seven for 145 yards in week 15.

Linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer each got to Brees multiple times as they too often got through the line with little or no resistance.

Dallas has shut out its last two opponents and held the Saints to three points through three quarters.

Fortunately, Dallas won’t face New Orleans until possibly the NFC championship game.

 

 

 

 

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Saints Panic? Here’s Why the Sky’s Not Falling in New Orleans…Yet

A 17-0 lead.

At home.

Against a 2-12 team they had beaten by a 38-7 score just a month earlier.

Drew Brees vs. rookie Josh Freeman.

And then….

Yuck.

Pierre Thomas leaves the game with bruised ribs.

Marques Colston fumbles.

Michael Spurlock silences the Superdome crowd.

Garrett Hartley chokes.

Utter frustration if you are a Saints fan.

Same old Saints.

The teacher in me, though, says that a lesson can be learned from this loss, and it can be learned before it’s too late.

This past fall I was an assistant coach for my school’s fifth/sixth grade football team.

On one particular Saturday morning during pregame warmups, my players looked across the field at the other team. A number of players commented on how short the other team looked, and one of them said that they looked like a bunch of ants.

An hour later, those “ants” had bitten my team to the tune of 26-0.

Currently, I am coaching some of those same players on the school’s fifth grade basketball team.

It’s the opening game of the season, and the same situation unfolds.

One of my players commented that the other team looked really small. I glared at him and reminded him of the last time we underestimated the other team.

Lesson learned, thankfully, as this time we defeated the opponent, 17-6.

After bolting to a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter, it seemed as if the Saints were content on coasting the rest of the way against a bunch of “ants.”

They figured that a two-win team with nothing to play for would have no chance.

There was absolutely no way that Sean Payton, Gregg Williams, and Drew Brees would lose a game to Raheem Morris, Greg Olson, and Josh Freeman.

Except, again, the “ants” won again and the “Aints” of old reared their ugly head.

Now, the Saints travel to Carolina to end the regular season.

Panthers star receiver Steve Smith is lost for this game with a broken arm. It appears as if the Panthers now have little to no passing threat and the Saints can focus on stopping the run.

Don’t take the Panthers, their diminished passing game, and 7-8 record lightly.

They still have Jonathan Stewart, who rushed for over 200 yards at Giants Stadium. They also have quarterback Matt Moore, who is looking like the quarterback of the future in Carolina.

Hopefully, the New Orleans Saints learn the same lesson as my fifth graders did.

With a guaranteed week off after the Carolina game, perhaps there’s a silver lining in Sunday’s loss.

Had the Saints not blown a 17-0 lead or had Hartley’s field goal attempt sailed through the uprights, Payton and his staff would have likely treated the season finale like the fourth preseason game.

We’d see Brees, his offensive line, and most of his weapons for maybe a quarter, and then we’d see gray-haired Mark Brunell taking snaps from Nick Leckey, handing the ball off to Lynell Hamilton, and throwing it to Courtney Roby and Darnell Dinkins.

How would the Saints’ starters mentally prepare for such a situation?

Coach Payton told a story on NFL radio earlier this season about Brees and work ethic.

Early Sunday afternoon during the Saints’ bye week, Payton, who thought he was alone at the Saints’ practice facility, was leaving work when he saw someone on the Saints field. It was Brees, and he was simulating a game. He was mentally going through every game situation and every play that they had worked on throughout the season.

So we know that Brees would be mentally sharp, but I’m not so sure about the other 52 players on the roster.

If Week 17 meant nothing, then the Saints would likely have gone two (maybe three) weeks without preparing mentally like you need to in the NFL.

Now every Saint is forced to prepare for Week 17 just like it’s any other week.

Perhaps losing to the Bucs was a blessing in disguise.

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If you haven’t voted for the Saints’ all-decade team, click here to voice your opinion.

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Attention Saints Fans: Cast Your Votes For The Saints All-Decade Team

The 2000s was the most successful decade in New Orleans Saints’ history. They won their first playoff game ever (12/30/2000, vs. the St. Louis Rams), and took home three division titles—2000, 2006, and 2009.

A team forever known for its offensive ineptitude showed an offensive burst in the early part of the decade, and all-time greatness since 2006.

Several all-time great Saints have passed through this organization over the past 10 years. This decade features several players who are either in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame—Willie Roaf and Joe Johnson—or are future members—Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister, Joe Horn, and more.

Below are my nominees for the New Orleans Saints’ all-decade team. Please vote and add any additional nominees by commenting to this article, or by leaving a message in my inbox.

Bleacher Report’s New Orleans Saints’ all-decade will be announced on December 30.

The number of players at the listed position who will be on the all-decade team is in parentheses.

QB (1): Drew Brees, Aaron Brooks (the only two quarterbacks to start for a full season in the 2000s)

RB (1): Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas

FB (1): Terrelle Smith, Mike Karney

WR (2): Joe Horn, Willie Jackson, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson

T (2): Willie Roaf, Jammal Brown, Kyle Turley, Jon Stinchcomb

G (2): Montre Holland, Jahri Evans, Cark Nicks, Jamar Nesbit

C (1): Jeff Faine, LeCharles Bentley, Jonnathan Goodwin

TE (1): Mark Campbell, Billy Miller, Cam Cleeland, Jeremy Shockey

DE (2): Will Smith, Darren Howard, Joe Johnson

DT (2): La’Roi Glover, Normand Hand, Grady Jackson, Kendrick Clancy

LB (3): Mark Fields, Keith Mitchell, Darren Smith, Jonathan Vilma, Scott Shanle, Scott Fujita, James Allen

CB (2): Mike McKenzie, Fred Weary, Jason Craft

S (2): Sammy Knight, Jay Bellamy, Roman Harper

Returner (1): Michael Lewis

Punter (1): Toby Gowin, Steve Weatherford

Place Kicker (1): John Carney, Doug Brien

Special Teamer (1): Steve Gleason, Fred McAfee

Coach (1): Jim Haslett, Sean Payton

 

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Saints Survive Scare From Da Dirty Bird, Beat Atlanta Falcons To Remain Perfect

The New Orleans Saints won a nail-biter on the road for the second straight week as they defeated the Atlanta Falcons 26-23 to clinch a first-round bye.

This time it was the Saints, and not their opponent, blowing a double-digit lead.

New Orleans led 23-9 with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter when the Falcons came flying back to tie the game.

Quarterback Chris Redman and receiver Michael Jenkins took advantage of a Saints blitz to score on a 50-yard touchdown. The Falcons then marched 79 yards on their next possession and scored on a 4-yard run by Jason Snelling.

Then, with the score tied and Atlanta with good field position, Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey called a play that reminded me of Sean Payton circa 2007.

On first down, Atlanta ran the Wildcat with return man Eric Weems and they proceeded to lose 12 yards. Feeling the pressure to make a play on second down, Redman forced a throw to Roddy White and was intercepted by linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

The Saints kicked a field goal to go up 26-23, and Vilma made one more spectacular defensive play to end the game. On 4th-and-2, Vilma blasted Snelling one yard short of the first down marker.

Player of the Game

Reggie Bush scored two touchdowns and had 79 yards from scrimmage. He had a 21-yard reception and a 19-yard run. Bush also had his best punt return of the season darting 23 yards up the left sideline.

The Good

New Orleans was 8-of-12 on third down conversions. The most impressive was the 21-yard touchdown reception to Bush on 3rd-and-19.

Brees continues to spread the ball around as well as anyone in the NFL. Five different receivers caught at least four passes for 46 or more yards.

The Saints held the ball for 36:44 compared to just 23:16 for the Falcons.

The Bad

Redman, who is a career backup, passed for 303 yards. This is the second straight week the Saints have allowed 300 yards passing by an unheralded quarterback.

Give credit to Redman, though. He took what the Saints gave him and that was a lot of underneath passes. He was obviously well-prepared for this game. He did his best Brees impression by completing passes to eight different teammates.

Darren Sharper is starting to show his age lately. He had seven interceptions and three touchdowns in the team’s first seven games and just one interception in the team’s last six games. He was burned quite badly in one-on-one coverage when Jenkins scored.

I’m starting to wonder if Sharper is going to have enough left in the tank for the remainder of the season. Fortunately, he will be able to rest in a few weeks when the Saints get their playoff bye.

The Ugly

The Saints missed their third extra point of the season. This time it was Garrett Hartley and this one could have cost the Saints the game.

Every time New Orleans misses a short kick, I am reminded of Gary Anderson and the 1998 Minnesota Vikings.

For those of you who don’t remember, the Vikings were 15-1 and had a heck of offense led by Randall Cunningham, Randy Moss, and Cris Carter.

Up seven points with 2:07 left in the NFC championship game, the Vikings had a chance to go up 10 if Gary Anderson could connect on 38-yard field goal. Anderson, who hadn’t missed a kick all season, was wide by about a foot on the attempt.

Atlanta then responded by scoring the game-tying touchdown and then the game-winning field goal in overtime.

The Vikings, whose only regular season loss was by three points on the road and had a record-setting offense, fell short of the Super Bowl in part because their kicking game let them down.

Let’s hope for the Saints that history does not repeat itself, unless, of course, it’s the Vikings repeating it.

A Look Ahead

If the Saints can beat the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night and the Vikings lose to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night, New Orleans will clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Marques Colston needs 92 yards to reach 1,000 for the third time in four seasons. Brees is 168 yards away from his fourth straight 4,000 yard season.

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Where Dat!? A Saints Fan’s Review Of The Louisiana Superdome

Home of the New Orleans Saints and the Tulane Green Wave, the Louisiana Superdome has hosted many big-time events since it first opened in 1975. The Superdome has witnessed six Super Bowls and four NCAA men’s final fours.

Legends and dynasties have been born in one of New Orleans’ most iconic structures. It was in the building in 1982 that a young Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot for the North Carolina Tar Heels to win the national title. Nearly 20 years later, the underdog New England Patriots took down the St. Louis Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf to win their first Super Bowl.

Unfortunately for Louisianians, the most historic wins by the Superdome’s tenants are a just a pair of playoff wins by the New Orleans Saints. That could all change this year.

On November 8, 2009, I set out with a group of seven other Saints fans to watch the Saints take on the Carolina Panthers.

FANFARE Score: 23

F ood & Beverage: 4 (out of 5)

In addition to your usual selection of hamburgers, hot dogs, and nachos, the Superdome also offers some local flavor to spice up your eating experience. Southern Louisiana cuisine is known for its unique flavor, and the Superdome’s selection of local dishes helps the concessions stand out. Crawfish pie, alligator sausage, and chicken and sausage jambalaya are all offered from $5.50-$7.50.

A tmosphere: 3

The Superdome is one of the loudest venues in the United States when the Saints are doing well. The Saints quickly fell behind by two touchdowns in this game and you could hear a pin drop throughout the first half. The quality of the atmosphere made a turnaround only as the Saints marched their way to another second half comeback.

N eighborhood: 4

One of the qualities of the Louisiana Superdome that allows it to host so many big-time events is its location. The dome can be found in the middle of downtown and in walking distance of several hotels, restaurants, bars, Harrah’s Casino, and the convention center. It is also close to New Orleans’ historic French Quarter neighborhood.

One thing that attracts so many people to New Orleans is its party-like atmosphere and lenient alcohol laws. It is legal to walk the streets of New Orleans with an open container and that was quite evident on this particular Sunday afternoon. There were several “vendors” along our twenty minute walk to the dome selling domestic beer starting at $2 a bottle. We even came across a man who had his very own miniature cocktail set and offered passers-by a drink for $5.

There are so many fantastic eateries within walking distance of the Superdome that it is impossible to talk about them all. Here are two places that are a must for any visitor.

Mother’s- The eight of us waited outside in line for 20 minutes before gaining access to this New Orleans institution, but it was worth every minute. I got the Ferdi, a fantastic po-boy loaded with ham, roast beef, gravy, and debris (think of the goodness at the bottom of the pot and that’s debris) all on French bread. The fried shrimp po-boy and the John G., a po-boy loaded with roast beef, ham, and turkey both come highly recommended by my friends.

Café Du Monde- The original is located in the French Quarter on Decatur Street and is about a 25 minute walk from the Superdome. Café Du Monde is home of its famous beignets (think deep-fried powdered pastry).

What keeps the neighborhood rating from being a perfect five is its cleanliness (or lack of) and high crime rate.

F ans: 4

Saints’ fans are among some of the passionate and loyal in the NFL. After rumors circulated in 2005 that the Saints would move to San Antonio or Los Angeles after Hurricane Katrina forced the Saints to evacuate the city for a full season, fans have sold out every game since the start of the 2006 season and that trend appears likely to continue for many more years.

As mentioned earlier, though, Saints fans can get awfully quiet when the Saints trail by multiple scores.

A ccess: 3

While private lots offer parking for anywhere from $10-$20, there is plenty of street parking less than a mile from the dome. New Orleans does not have a good public transportation system so expect to walk everywhere.

R eturn on Investment: 4

If you like scoring, the Superdome is the place to be for an NFL game. The Saints are averaging 36.7 points per home game during the 2009 season. I paid $50 for my ticket near the top of the dome and could see the action well. As someone who grew up 35 minutes from downtown New Orleans and has been to many Saints games, there aren’t many bad seats in the Superdome.

E tc: 1

The Superdome is one of the oldest buildings in the NFL and is in the process of receiving a much-needed facelift. There are a few New Orleans Saints’ division championship banners along with a few Tulane banners hanging in the dome but not much else.

This story was originally published on December 10, 2009 on http://stadiumjourney.com/.

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Saints Third Quarter Report: Grading New Orleans and its Perfect Dozen

If you look strictly at the opponents’ records, the third quarter was supposed to be the easiest four-game stretch of the season.

Games against St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Washington were all supposed to be a cakewalk. The only tough game appeared to be a Monday night affair with New England.

Games, as everyone knows, are not played on paper. When you are perceived by many to be the best team in the league, everyone gives you their best shot.

For teams with losing records and no play-off hopes, a chance to take down an undefeated team is their Super Bowl.

St. Louis and Washington both took New Orleans down to the wire with the Redskins forcing overtime.

The Saints’ best performance came against the Patriots during which coach Belichick waved the white flag with more than five minutes left in the game.

In between all of this, they blew out division rival Tampa Bay on the road by 31 points.

In a matter of four games since the halfway mark, the Saints turned a three-game division lead into a title clincher.

New Orleans currently leads the Atlanta Falcons by six games with just four to go.

The grades in this report card reflect performance only in weeks 10-13.

 

Coaching

Comments: The mark of a good coach is one who has his team prepared better than the opposing team and has them ready to face any obstacle. A good coach is able to make adjustments when necessary, but also knows when to stick with the original game plan.

Head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams thoroughly out-coached Bill Belichick, who has set the gold standard for preparation this decade, in their head-to-head matchup in week 12.

In his previous three season as head coach, Payton had a number of, “what the heck?
moments.”

Those moments are becoming few and far between this season.

Grade: A+

 

Passing Offense

Comments: Except for one sack, Drew Brees could not have played a better game than he did against the Patriots.

Take a look at some of these numbers from that game:

• Five touchdowns (to five different players)
• 78.3 completion percentage
• 16.1 yards per attempt
• 158.3 quarterback rating (which is considered a perfect rating)

In the past four games (really six), Brees has not had a completion percentage under 65.

He has not had a fumble this quarter. He had five in a three game stretch in the middle of the year.

Total numbers in the past four games: 90-127 (71 percent), 1,200 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Receiver Robert Meachem has been phenomenal recently.

He has 16 catches and six touchdowns in his last four games. Meachem set a career high for receptions (eight) and yards (142) against Washington.

Grade: A

 

Rushing Offense

Comments: Despite the strong passing attack, the Saints continue to remain committed to the run.

They crushed St. Louis for over 200 yards rushing, and rolled over Tampa Bay for 187 yards on the ground.

New Orleans gained just 113 yards running the football against New England, but a close look at the stat sheet tells the whole story.

The Saints had just 50 plays against the Patriots, but struck with so many long pass plays that they never had a chance to grind it out on the ground. Yet, they still managed 4.3 yards per carry.

Only Washington gave New Orleans trouble running the ball as the Saints averaged a measly 2.3 yards a pop.

The only concern I’d have with the running game for the rest of the year is if they play the Minnesota Vikings in the play-offs. The Vikings have a defensive line that’s just as good as Washington’s and can force New Orleans to adjust their offensive game plan.

Grade: A-

Passing Defense

Comments: Injuries in the secondary make this the toughest section to fairly grade.

Starting corner Jabari Greer has not played this quarter, while Tracy Porter, the opposite starter at corner, was injured during the Rams’ game and has not played since.

Nickelback Randall Gay was injured early against the Patriots and did not play this past week against the Redskins.

Rookie corner Malcolm Jenkins, this year’s first round pick, played lights out while covering slot receiver extraordinaire Wes Welker, but struggled on the wet field against Washington’s less-heralded receivers.

To make up for the injuries, the Saints signed Mike McKenzie, a fan favorite in the dome. McKenzie immediately made his presence known with an interception of Tom Brady while covering Randy Moss.

The Saints also signed Chris McAlister, but have since released him.

Of course, the best pass coverage is worthless if there is no pass rush up front.

The pass rush made its mark in weeks 10-12, registering eight sacks. However, it made very little impact on Washington’s Jason Campbell, whose jersey stayed clean all day.

It is not a coincidence that Campbell was able to pass for 367 yards and three touchdowns on a day in which he didn’t get touched.

Grade : B

 

Rushing Defense

Comments: There is nothing outstanding about the Saints’ run defense. Of course, it doesn’t help that they are decimated by injuries at linebacker.

Scott Fujita has been in an out of the lineup lately (mostly out), Marvin Mitchell did not play against Washington, and now JoLonn Dunbar is on injured reserved.

The return of Sedrick Ellis has helped a lot. Saints fans have to hope that he can stay healthy for the remainder of the season.

In four games without Ellis, the Saints have given up 151.25 rushing yards per game. In eight games with him in the lineup, they are allowing just 95.25 rushing yards per game.

Grade: C+

Special Teams

Comments : While rookie punter/kickoff specialist Thomas Morstead has still been solid, the special teams’ star is now Courtney Roby.

Roby has had several big kickoff returns, including a 97-yard touchdown to break a 14-14 tie with the Rams. Roby is also a key member of the coverage units as he has 10 special teams tackles.

The Saints’ paltry punt return average of 3.4 yards ranks 31st in the NFL.

New Orleans demoted placekicker John Carney this past week and elevated Garrett Hartley to the active roster.

Carney had missed three field goals inside 40 yards and had several more close calls. Hartley responded by hitting four field goals, including the game-winner against the Redskins.

Hartley’s consistency and leg strength should serve the Saints well as they head towards the play-offs.

Grade : B

 

Overall

Comments : This season has already seen a lot of franchise firsts.

This is the first 12-0 start.

The is the first time they have won 12 games since 1992. They have never won 13.

The is the first division title and play-off berth since 2006.

Three of the last four games have been on the road, and while they haven’t all been pretty, they’ve all ended with the Saints on top.

As the Saints gear up for the final stretch of the regular season, they will be focusing on clinching home-field advantage and perhaps perfection.

I’m sure Saints fans would have liked to see their team win a little bit easier in St. Louis and Washington, but the close games will make the Saints stronger in the long run.

It’s a mark of champion when you can get a victory in the NFL with you don’t have your A-game.

While the Saints have shown some vulnerability in recent games, they have also shown how dominating they can be.

The rest of the NFL better be on high alert.

Grade: A-

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Lucky Week 13: New Orleans Saints Pull Rabbit Out of the Hat To Escape Redskins

It appeared as if the New Orleans Saints had gotten caught in the trap game. Then Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham gave them an escape route.

Suisham missed a chance to put Washington up 10 points with less than two minutes left. Saints quarterback Drew Brees then carved up the Redskins secondary for 80 yards in 33 seconds to send the game into overtime.

Garrett Hartley’s 18-yard field goal kept the Saints perfect.

The win also clinched the NFC South title. It is the Saints’ second title in four years and third this decade, but just their fourth in franchise history. New Orleans won its first division title in 1991.

The Saints’ 12th regular season win ties a team record. They also won 12 games in 1987 and 1992. While the Saints record remains perfect, New Orleans played a far from perfect game.

Here’s a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from Week 13.

The Good

Despite looking uncomfortable all day long, Brees still managed to throw for over 400 yards and two touchdowns.

Hartley hit four field goals, including the game-winner, in his first game of the season.

Robert Meachem caught a career-high eight passes for 142 yards and one touchdown. He also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery after Brees threw and interception.

Jonathan Vilma’s interception ended the Redskins’ hopes of winning the game in regulation.

The Bad

The Saints committed seven penalties for 102 yards while the Redskins committed just two for 15 yards. Forty-seven of those penalty yards came on the Redskins’ first drive, which resulted in a touchdown.

Malcolm Jenkins looked like the rookie he is six days after blanketing Wes Welker. Jenkins got burned several times by Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, and Devin Thomas.

New Orleans hardly got any pressure on Jason Campbell and did not record a sack.

The Ugly

The Saints’ running game managed just 2.3 yards per carry, forcing Brees to throw the ball nearly 50 times.

The injured cornerbacks need to come back soon. Jabari Greer, Randall Gay, and Tracy Porter were all inactive and Jason Campbell threw for over 350 yards and three touchdowns.

A Look Ahead

New Orleans has four games remaining in the regular season and must continue winning to secure home-field advantage.

As of now, Minnesota is 10-1 and plays Sunday night against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Saints’ next game is against the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome. The Falcons look to get quarterback Matt Ryan back after he missed the 34-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in week 13.

 

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Is “MNF” Showdown in New Orleans More Important for Patriots or Saints?

Nov. 20, 2005. New England 24, New Orleans 17.

The Patriots marched out to a commanding 24-7 lead before a valiant comeback by the over-matched Saints fell 22 yards short.

Much has changed since the last time these two teams met.

The Saints were mired in the most miserable season in franchise history, a season that will be forever known as the “Katrina” season.

The Patriots were one year removed from their third Super Bowl title in four years. Two years later, New England would rip through the regular season undefeated.

Speaking of undefeated…

Just how important is this game for the 10-0 New Orleans Saints?

If you ask ESPN, the network televising the game, they will tell you that the Week 12 inter-conference tilt is the biggest game of the regular season.

Some members of the national media will tell you that Drew Brees needs to beat Tom Brady to cement his status among the league’s elite quarterbacks.

Really?!

I guess leading a team from 3-13 one year to their first NFC championship game the next meant nothing.

Neither did passing for more than 5,000 yards and leading the team to eight victories when they wouldn’t have won four without him.

Brees doesn’t have the resume that Brady and Peyton Manning have, but at 30 years old, he’s likely got five or six peak years left in him.

They’ll also tell you that the Saints need to beat the almighty Patriots to validate what’s already been an historic ride because the schedule to date has been “soft.”

While three of New Orleans’ victories have come against the Lions, Rams, and Buccaneers, to suggest the schedule is soft is ludicrous.

Strength of schedule only really matters to the BCS.

A victory by the Saints would place them at 11-0 and give them a legitimate shot at running the table.

So, how important is this game really for the Saints?

I’d argue it’s the least important of their remaining six games.

Finishing unbeaten in the regular season means nothing if you aren’t playing your best at the end and can’t finish.

Just ask the Patriots.

The most important thing for the New Orleans Saints to focus on between now and the end of the year is to get better, get healthy, and keep home-field advantage out of Minnesota.

To expect the Saints to finish 16-0, especially with slightly less than half of the season remaining, is ridiculous.

For argument’s sake, let’s say they must lose one of their last six games. If that’s the case, Monday’s game is the one I’d pick.

Why? Because it’s a non-conference game.

The Minnesota Vikings currently sit at 9-1. Their single loss is also at the hands of a non-conference foe (week seven at Pittsburgh).

If the Vikings and Saints were to finish with identical 15-1 records, the only chance the Saints would have at the No. 1 seed would be if they won all of their NFC games.

If you are a Saints fan, would you rather Brees orchestrate his offense in the comforts of his home stadium, or have him face Jared Allen and company while battling the roar of the crowd at Mall of America Field?

(Is it just me, or is adding “Mall of America Field” just a little less intimidating than just calling it the Metrodome?)

Ask the San Francisco 49ers about the magic Brett Favre can work on his home turf.

In essence, the game against the offensively challenged Washington Redskins the following week is more important than Monday’s clash of the titans in the Superdome.

This game is way more important for the Patriots.

At 7-3, New England is battling a number of teams, including the Bengals and Chargers, for the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

With just a two-game lead in the AFC East, a Patriots’ loss and Dolphins’ victory in Week 12 (Miami plays sinking Buffalo) would mean that the division lead would be at stake when these two teams meet the following week in Miami.

Including Monday night, the Patriots play four of their last six games on the road.

Besides New Orleans and Miami, they must play Carolina (4-6), who can run on anyone, and also Jacksonville (6-4) and Houston (5-5), who will likely be fighting for their playoff lives.

The easiest game on their schedule appears to be Week 15 against Buffalo, but always throw out the records when playing a division opponent on the road who’s looking to play spoiler.

If the Patriots lose to the Saints on Monday Night Football, they could easily be staring at an 11-5 season, which isn’t a playoff guarantee anymore.

Just ask the Patriots.

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New Orleans a Perfect 10: Saints Sink Buccaneers, 38-7

No Sedrick Ellis.

No Reggie Bush.

Both starting corners out.

No problem.

Tampa Bay took the ball 95 yards down the field and scored a touchdown on their first drive.

They got just 124 yards and were shut out the rest of the game.

The New Orleans Saints scored the final five touchdowns of the game in a 38-7 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Saints forced four turnovers and, even more importantly, committed none of their own.

New Orleans, prior to Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay, had committed 13 turnovers in the past four games—seven alone by Drew Brees.

Brees was an efficient 19 of 29 passing for 187 yards and three touchdowns.

New Orleans held Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman to 17 of 33 passing and only 126 yards.

Game balls go to…

 

The Offensive line : For the first time in several weeks, Brees was not sacked. The line also paved the way for Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell to combine for 167 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.

David Thomas : His versatility has made the loss of fullback Heath Evans more bearable and has given Brees a solid second tight end to compliment Jeremy Shockey. Thomas threw several key blocks in the run game and had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Malcolm Jenkins: Making his first career start for the injured Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter, Jenkins finished second on the team with five tackles and had his first career interception.

 

Nice to have you back…

Marques Colston: Colston led the team in receptions and yardage after posting back-to-back poor games.

 

New Orleans back on track

This was the type of game the Saints absolutely need. Yeah, the blowout came against a (now) 1-9 team with a rookie quarterback, but New Orleans had hardly looked like a playoff team since whipping the New York Giants 48-27 on October 25.

No huge comeback was needed this time as they trailed by no more than seven.

The Saints closed out the game like a top NFL team should by scoring 21 second half points and shutting out the opponent in the process.

 

A look ahead…

At 10-0, the Saints have set a new franchise record with 10 straight wins.

They are two wins shy of the franchise record for regular season wins. New Orleans went 12-3 in 1987 and 12-4 in 1992. Ironically, none of the Saints’ three division titles came in either of those seasons.

The Saints currently have a five-game lead over the Falcons for the NFC South crown with six games left. New Orleans will clinch the division next week with a win over New England AND an Atlanta loss to Tampa Bay.

The Saints will face the Patriots (7-3) in Week 12 at home on Monday Night Football .

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Panthers-Saints: Will New Orleans Set Franchise Mark With 8-0 Start?

The last time the New Orleans Saints were 7-0 Michael Jordan won his first title, we found out what “going postal” meant, the country became aware of a man in Los Angeles named Rodney King, and the Soviet Union collapsed.

In Louisiana, former KKK leader David Duke lost the governor’s election to future convicted felon Edwin Edwards.

Yes, it’s been a while since the Saints have experienced this kind of success.

An 8-0 start would be a “first ever” for the black and gold.

In order to achieve midseason perfection, the Saints must beat the Carolina Panthers—a team, despite its 3-4 record, that will prove to be a tough test.

Carolina and head coach John Fox have owned New Orleans. The Panthers have won six of the past seven meetings against the Saints, and Fox sports a 5-1 record in head to head meetings against Sean Payton.

The Panthers used a strong running game and a tough defense to jump out to big leads and sweep the Saints last year.

This year the Panthers will look to use the same formula to put the first blemish on the Saints’ perfect record.

The running back duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart has combined for 700 yards and five yards per carry over the past four games. The Panthers’ pass rush is tied with the Saints among other teams for 10th in the league in sacks.

Defensive end Julius Peppers leads the team with seven sacks. Six of those sacks have come during the Panthers’ recent surge of three wins in the past four games.

 

Three matchups to watch…

1) Julius Peppers vs. the Saints offensive line- Drew Brees has been under severe pressure in each of the last two games and now the offensive line must protect against one of the most athletic and talented pass rushers in the world.

Peppers will line up anywhere along the line of scrimmage so the offensive line and Brees must find him at every pre-snap lead.

2) Steve Smith vs. Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter- Despite Smith’s recent grumblings that he is no longer an asset to the team, he continues to be a frequent target of Jake Delhomme’s passes.

Smith ranks ninth in the NFL with 62 targets. He leads the team in receptions and yardage.

Take Smith away and Carolina’s passing attack is significantly weakened.

 

3) Jon Beason and Thomas Davis vs. Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell- Expect the Saints to give Thomas and Bell around 30 combined carries. Their effectiveness running the ball inside will be largely determined by linebackers Beason and Davis.

 

The Saints will win if…

1) They limit turnovers.

The Saints have turned the ball over four times in each of the last two games and still have managed to win by an average of 10 points.

I don’t know how much longer they can continue to be so charitable with the ball and still get away with it.

2) The Panthers are forced to abandon the run before the fourth quarter.

The Saints rank 11th against the run, but that number is deceiving. They generally jump out to big early leads and forced teams to quit running the ball. This is when they are at their best.

New Orleans has struggled to stop the run against the Giants, Dolphins, and Falcons.

The Dolphins stopped running the ball for no apparent reason, but the Giants and Falcons had to abandon a successful running game because they were down by multiple scores late in the game.

The quicker the Saints jump out to a big lead, the better off their defense will look.

 

3) The Saints protect Drew Brees.

I mentioned earlier that the offensive line has struggled to protect Brees lately. He has been sacked seven times in the past two games after getting sacked just four times in the first five games.

The sacks and other quarterback hits have led to interceptions, lost fumbles, and poor field position.

A protected Drew Brees can lead the offense to six or seven touchdowns per game.

 

Predictions

This is a tough game to predict. Division games are always played closer than they appear on paper. The Panthers have won three of their last four but those victories have come against Washington, Tampa Bay, and a Jekyll and Hyde Arizona team.

Delhomme has thrown 13 picks on the season and has had multiple-interception games four times this season. The Saints defense has feasted on errant passes taking five back for touchdowns. New Orleans gets two interceptions.

The Panthers have the top ranked pass defense but just the 24th ranked rush defense. Carolina holds Brees to 255 yards and two touchdowns , but Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell combine for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

DeAngelo Williams has 80 first half yards and finishes with 125 as the Panthers successfully establish an early running game.

New Orleans 34, Carolina 23

 

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